Amy Mohr

I'm very sorry to say this, but I am afraid I will be stopping my blog.  There is really no need for it now, and to tell you the truth...I have forgotten about it and can't seem to find the motivation to continue on with it.  I am sorry for those that actively read my blog...but now you have to make more of the effort to contact me to find out what's going on with my life.  Maybe someday I will continue it again, but for now I must say goodbye! 

Three years of my life can be found on this blog, so it sad to say goodbye!  But goodbye for now.  Take care everyone!!

KRAMAR

Bored on a Thursday planying with Mike's web cam!!  I thought maybe you check out my new hairdo!


Hmmmmmm....do I press this button.


So serious...I mean seriously, how does this thing work!!

The job hunt still in action!!  Hopefully some good news in the next couple of days!!!

Snow here today!!  I heard there is a bunch back in Umea.  Time to bust out my winter jacket...AGAIN! 

Later peeps!

Yesterday my best friend Janey's daughter, Norah, turned 2 years old.  It was so much fun to finally make a birthday party for one of Janey's kids!!  So I drove down to Loveland last night, after a temporary snow storm in Denver, and made it just in time for everything!!  Norah's party was an Elmo themed party.  There were about 15 people or so there, and around 8 wild kids running around.  Norah seemed to be a little overwhelmed because I don't think she really understood what was going on.  All the people, the presents, the candy, and the cake.  But she enjoyed all the attention and everyone had a great time, which is most important!


Sesame Street Theme party and Cookie Monster as the cake!!  I can't believe Janey decorated this all by herself!!  IMPRESSIVE!!


The main event...NORAH JANE PATELLA


Like mother like daughter!!


Janey's oldest Dean, he will be turning 5 years old in 20 days!!


Norah opening my present I got for her, the bag is almost as tall as her.  Everytime she opened a present she would say "Look it!!"  Sooooooooooooo cute. 


Time to blow out the candle and Norah trying to figure out what is going on?!!?


Cake completed!  I think most landed on her face!!  SO adorable!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS NORAH!! 

Good morning everyone!!  Well "good" whatever time of day you are in when you read this!!!  Things back home have been going great.  It's just a matter of getting back into the swings of things.  Also, I sort of have to start essentially a new life here.  I had built a life in Sweden and even developed a job out of it.  Here I have to start from the beginning.  I have to find a whole new job, look for a coaching job possibly, or just help out with some sort of basketball team.  It's hard now because everyone has hired their coaches for the year, so the only thing I can do is help out!  Which I don't mind doing at all.  The job thing is even harder because I dont really know what I want to do in my life.  I just always assumed it would be basketball related.  Now I have to find a career that I can do for awhile, that will probably NOT involve basketball.  I know sad story.  Mike has a friend that works at a bank as a mananger and has promised me a job there being a teller or banker.  But I have not heard from them yet, but I'm hoping that sometime this week they contact me for a job interview and I can start right up.  Just part-time for now.  I've been helping Mike out a bit with his many jobs he has.  Just some paper/computer work.  So it has given me something to do. 

Today is one of my more exciting days!!  I will meet Amie for lunch in a couple hours!!  Amie is one of my best friends here in America!  She and her husband are expecting their first child in March, and she gets to find out what she is having this Friday!!!!!  I cant wait to find out...will they break the trend of boys???  Then later tonight I will travel up to Loveland to visit my friend Janey and attend the party of her daughter, Norah, who turns 2 today!!!  So I am going to bust out my camera and make sure I can post some new updated photos of life here!!

So one of the coolest things about me being back home, is that I get to attend all my friends babies birthday parties now.  I just missed Charlie's one year birthday...but there will be more to come!!  Norah today, Dean (her brother) the end of this month, and Jaxon in January!  That I am looking forward to!!  So crazy being back home this time of year, because I havent for the last 3 years.  It's kind of exciting and fun at the same time.

There has been a lot of perks since being back, but I want everyone to understand that I am missing Sweden and the life I left there.  The people I met there mean so much to me, and I hope they will continue to be a part of my life eventhough we are so far apart.  My best friend Sophia means the world to me!! And I am so thankful that I met her when I did.  We have the craziest story of how we met, but there was a reason for all of that to happen!  She has been my backbone over there and my voice of reason.  Also my partner in crime...and we have had some great times together!!  Hemavan, Rex, Switzerland, New Years, numerous parties, Mid-Sommar, oh there is so much more.  So I just wanted to let you know, I miss you friend and I can't wait until you come visit me this summer!!


Forever Gangstar!

I hope your knee gets better and I am thinking of you always!! 

Well peeps, that's all I have for now.  I hope everyone is having a great week.  Is it Friday yet???  I can't wait for the weekend because finally Mike has a day off!!  He is such a busy man. 

KRAMAR TO EVERYONE!!

I know, I know...I've been lazy.  I haven't blogged since I have been home and things were so busy right before I left Umea.  I am here, back in America...after a long trip from Umea.  The trip went smoothly and when I finally arrived in Denver, my loving boyfriend was waiting for me with his arms wide open!!  It was great to see Mike again and things are great between us!!  We are now living in his room at the Regency and I was able to squeeze all my things and clothes in here.  Everything has been great!

I havent done too much being back.  Just trying to get caught up with the new times.  I was waking up early for awhile, at 5am wide awake and falling asleep pretty early.  Which is fine because Mike has a similar schedule with 6am practices for him.  But now I can successfully sleep in a bit longer after he leaves for work.

This weekend I should be able to catch up on somethings.  I have re-construct my blog a little bit, since it is no long "My Life in Sweden".  I have even been wondering if I should even continue with it.  But Sophia is on me that I should continue so all my friends back in Sweden (Switzerland) can see what I am up to over here in America.  What do you guys think??

Things in Umea finished up great!  There was a very dinner for me Saturday night at Droskan with my team and non-basketball friends!!  There were some really nice speeches given and it was amazing to see that I have in fact made an impact in some peoples lives.  I felt very appreciated and I am very thankful I have these people in my lives!!  I have some pictures to post and some more comments to make on my goodbye weekend...but I will get to that later.  I am almost settled in and once that is completed I promise to pay more attention to this blog! 

So now my life begins a new chapter here in America!  I will meet with a doctor and probably interview for a job at the bank sometime next week.  Mike's season is inching closer to the start!  I am going to be the wifey cheering my man on at all the games!!  Cant wait.

Well that's all I have for now...and coming soon...MORE!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

HUGS!

SO SURPRISE!!!!  I am now coming home Monday, Nov. 1 instead of Thursday the 4th as orginally scheduled.  Sunday morning I called Mike to wish him good morning and as I ended the conversation, he says to me...OH yeah, I changed your flight to Monday the 1st!!  So I get to come home earlier and I am so happy!!!!!!  Mostly because I get to see Mike 3 days earlier than I orginally thought!  It was a wonderful surprise and it made me so happy!  Thanks Mike for the wonderful suprise, I love you babe so much.

So after the great surprise, I realized I better get to the packing.  After living here for 3 years, I have acquired quite a collection of things.  My orginal thought was that I could fit everything in 2 suitcases.  As I began the packing, I quickly realized that it is not going to be possible.  So now I have concluded that will pack 3 bags, so that means I am going to pay the extra costs.  It's a little ridiculous to me that you can no longer travel with 2 bags for international flights, meaning I have to pay for 2 extra bags now.  But whatever, I have to get the stuff home and this is my last journey so I might as well.  I am gradually each day chipping away at it more and more.  I need to also weigh my bags to make sure they remain under the 50 lbs mark, because I do not want to pay any more extra costs.  It's gonna feel great when all the packing is finished!!

So the goodbyes continue here.  I had a nice fika with Josefine today and then a little shoe shopping after!!  All my evenings are booked up for the rest of my time here.  Tomorrow night it will be dinner at Maria's and then Thursday night at Linnea's.  Thursday night late comes Sophia!!!  Then much, if not all my weekend, will be spent with her!!  Friday night we are going to the Björklöven hockey match and then a girl night!!  Which will include wine and godis!!  Saturday is the game, Comets vs. Visby, and then dinner at Droskan with the club and some friends.  Then my go-away party!!  Sunday night will be spent at the Molin house for dinner and it also marks my last night in Sweden.  I know it will not be my last night forever in Sweden, because I will return some day!! 

My flight leaves early Monday morning at 7.15 to Stockholm.  Then it's a 10.20 departure from Stockholm to Chicago.  I leave 3.30 from Chicago and I am scheduled to land in Denver at 4.50!!  Home sweet home!!  And the best thing about it...MIKE!!  I cannot wait to his precious face and give him the biggest hug ever!!  I miss him and love him soooooooooooooooo much!!

Well things are starting to hit me more here...I can't believe it is all coming to an end.  I knew I would be saying my goodbyes one day, but I just didn't picture it like this...I thought I would have it planned better.  I really hope I get to say goodbye to everyone!!  Make sure to give me a call if you haven't!!

Take care everyone!!

KRAM

On Wednesday Maria, Oliver and I went out to lunch at EuroAsia!!  It was so great to spend some time with Maria finally!!  She has been really busy with a newborn and of course her 2 year old, as well as her move to their  new house.  Then of course I have been busy with basketball and now my knee injury.  So finally we were able to arrange a time together and it was fantastic!!  That's the great thing about Maria and me, we are always friends and can share so much in common no matter how much time passes between us!!  It was also great seeing little Oliver.  He has grown a bit since the last time I had seen him almost 3 weeks ago.  He is soooooo adorable and I am really going to miss them when I leave.


Little Oliver all snuggled up!!


Me and Oliver


He is so adorable.



I look so serious!!  I was loving the moment with cute little Oliver.

So lunch with Maria was great!!  I have been planning some other dinners and goodbye fikas with friends here.  I am leaving in just less than 2 weeks now.  The date has been booked and scheduled for Nov. 4th.  I leave Umeå at 6.30am and arrive in Denver at 5.00pm the same day!!  There my Mike will be waiting for me and I hope to run into his arms!!  I love you babe!!

So the knee is getting better each day.  It's a crazy thing because as the swelling goes down, the more mobile my knee becomes.  I can walk on it just fine, it doesnt hurt to put any pressure on it, and I can bend and extend pretty well.  I just know after surgery it will be back to square one, with the swelling and the inability to move it.  But for now it feels better and the walking is going well.  The medication probably helps with this...



The painkillers make me tired a lot of the time.  I find myself taking a bit more naps and falling asleep a lot easier.  I wake up every night around 2 or 3 in the morning with some pain, but then I can fall back asleep fairly fast.  They are helping with my pain which is great.

Tonight I hosted a fika at my place with about 8 of the girls on the team.  Katie and I baked some american chocolate chip cookies.  Of course they were a hit!!  We watched Idol and just talked about things.  I had a great time with the girls and man, I sure am going to miss them!!

So this weekend the girls will leave for Uppsalla to play vs. Sallen on Sunday kl. 13.00.  I am not traveling with them, but I plan to watch the game online!  I really hope we can get our first win of the year!!  Let's go Comets, get it done!!  It feels really weird that I will not be going on the trip but I will be with them in spirit. I always hope for the best! 

Frida and I plan to have dinner tomorrow night and a little wine!  Will be nice to have a little girl time and talk about life!  Also a last goodbye gathering for us.  Thats all that is planned for now.  I wish everyone a happy weekend!!!

KRAMAR

So sad...it's starting to get pretty surreal, I'm spending some of my last days in Sweden now.  I will return home Nov. 1 (most likely), in less than 2 weeks now.  It's pretty sudden for me, considering I had a different picture in my mind how I would be saying goodbye to everyone.  There are a lot of things I want to do before I leave, people to see, and things to buy.  I am not sure I will get around to all of it, but I will do my best.

So goodbyes will start here soon, with goodbye fikas starting to be planned this week and next.  Even a go-away dinner then party is in the works.  There are a lot of people out there that mean a lot to me, and I have no idea how to show them this or even tell them this.  I just didn't think this would be how it all ended.

But no more negatives, let us think positives!!  A new life will be waiting for me back home!  I haven't been home during the fall or winter time in 3 years, so that is going to be different.  I will get to watch some RMAC basketball games that I am looking forward to as well.  My heart will remain with the Umeå Comets, however, and I will follow them throughout the year.  If there is anything I can help with, I will do it in a heartbeat.  Of course I want the best for them!!  But the biggest positive of them all is I get to be with my loving boyfriend Mike.  He is the best thing that has happened to me and he will be there to support me through everything.  That's what makes him amazing and I am so thankful for him.  I love him more than anything!!

Next weekend my best Sophia is coming to town!!  A big reason I am staying an additional 2 weeks.  It just wouldn't feel right if I left without saying a proper goodbye to her.  So it works out perfect that she cán come that weekend, and we can spend some quality time together.  Also I can watch my last home game for the Comets and then celebrate the victory with the team later that night!!  It's going to be great!!

So now begins the packing...or actually this week I am going to form a plan.  I will decide what exactly I want to bring back with me, and what I can give away.  I know I cannot take everything back that I have acquired while here.  I have to look into shipping some things maybe??  I have no idea...  But I will get that all figured out!! 

SO MAKE SURE TO COME SAY GOODBYE TO ME!!!  We can plan a fika or maybe a get-together...but contact me and let's get this planned!!  Take care everyone!!

KRAMAR

HOME PREMIER THIS SATURDAY AT GAMMLIAHALLEN VS. NORRKÖPING KL. 15.00!!!  Be there!!

Let's go Comets!!

Sorry people...I've been a little MIA these past few days.  Would you like to know why??  Well I have been busy making a special little gift for my boyfriend (that I can't reveal now) and it has taken up my extra time.  I can give some hints, it involves me being creative and using another side of my brain.  But it's been fun and I'm excited to reveal the masterpiece soon!!  I hope you love it Michael!!  You may not be here with me... But thoughts of you are always in my heart... I Miss You!  And each day I fall more and more in love with you...still!!

I don't think I mentioned this the other day, but one our way to Norrköping for the game...we had a little bump in the road.  I was going through my pictures and I thought maybe I would share...


I was driving the mini-van when we all of sudden got a flat tire.  The tire was bad, it had been used up pretty bad so it really was no surprise it went flat.  The problem was, we couldn't get the flat tire off to put on the spare.  So we ended up taking a taxi the rest of the way to Norrköpping.


The team on the side of the road looking pretty clueless...I mean we are a bunch of girls.

TODAY I woke up to this here in Umeå...



SNOW!!!  The first snow in Umeå.  I can't believe it, already.  It sure was coming down hard.  It was like a wet, slushy snow.  Guess it's time to bust out the winter boots, winter gloves, and hats. 

This week has been a solid week of practice!!  Lookng forward to our first game at home this Saturday vs. Norrköpping.  It's going to be a tough game, but hopefully we end up out on top!!  Yesterday, Henna, Kate and myself spent a lot of the day handing out tickets for the game.  Hopefully we get a good turnout!!  COME CHEER ON THE COMETS!!  Kl. 15.00 at Gammliahallen!!

Hope this blog was shorter for you Julia :P

KRAMAR!

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH so close!!  We almost beat 08, the defending champions from last season.  We started the game out strong, when after 3 minutes the score stood 10-0 in our favor.  We even got up as much as 19 points in the first half...and up 7 pts at half-time.  We sustained the lead for the entire game until the final second of the game.  With 2 minutes left to go in the game we had a 6 pt lead.  08 pressed us hard and we just couldn't handle the pressure.  We turned the ball over in a matter of seconds about 3-4 times.  They were able to capitalize on our mistakes, and go on a run to tie the game at 59-59.  With about 38 seconds to go in the game, we had the ball and a chance to score.  We came out from the time-out and did not execute our play very well, and once again it resulted in another turnover.  With only seconds remaining on the game clock, 08 penetrates from the baseline, misses the shot, secures the rebound and shoots the put-back leaning back and in desperation to get the shot off...ball falls in the hoop.  We lose by 2 pts in the final second.  HEARTBREAKER! 

But there are a lot of positive things we can take from this game and some things we can grow from.    We had some costly errors that hurt us at the end, but not everything can be pinned on the final minutes.  Our defense was solid for most the game, holding them to 61 pts.  We worked hard and communicate very well.  We played aggressive and even out rebounded by a rebound.  We shot 42% from the 3-point line and 93% from the free-throw line.  We had 11 steals but unfortunately 29 turnovers.  That is something we must improve on for the next game!  Nobody thought we had a chance against this team before the start.  By the end of this game, I think we proved some people wrong.  Hopefully our score is a little bit of an eye-opener.  A team we lost to by 20 points or more in my previous 3 years, was not the same case this year.

Individual stats... I had 19 pts, 10 rebounds and 4 steals.  I also shot 9/9 from the free-throw line.  Mackey had 16 pts and 9 rebounds.  Henna had 10 pts and 6 rebounds.  Julia returned to action this weekend and it will be nice to have her back on the court with us!  Carro had 4 steals and 3 assists, Johanna made 2 key three-pointers, and Janette provided valuable minutes off the bench with 2 steals and solid defense.  Things can only get better for us!


Mackey going up for 2 pts!



I know...I make the worse facial expressions ever!


Yep that's me going up for a lay-up!

So now we have to put this game behind us and re-gain our focus for the next match this Saturday vs. Norrköping.  It is going to be our first home game and I can't wait to play in front of our home crowd!!  It's going to be a tough and very physical game.  I think we will match up well against them.  I am looking forward to the game and excited to get back on the hard-wood floor!  So I'm hoping for a solid week of practices and composure by the girls.  Game faces on Saturday!!  LET'S GO COMETS!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!!!!

#4

We are now only 3 days away till our first game of the season!!  The time is almost here.  Saturday we will face 08 in Norrköping for the first game of the year.  08 are the defending champions from last year, so it is going to be a tough start for us.  But we trained well for the past two weeks, and the girls have been practicing for over a month now...so I am confident we can play well against them.

Every team in the league will be opening their first games in Norrköping for the season.  So the weekend will be a lot of game watching.  I am really excited to see all the teams play and see what we will be facing later in the year.  Our game will be at 5.00 on Saturday and we will stay until Sunday night.  We will return back to Umeå late at 10.30.

This week has been pretty busy and a reason why I have been slacking a bit with the blogging.  Katie, Henna and myself have been working at Minerva school teaching basketball in four different physical education classes both Monday and Tuesday.  Basically we come into the school, take over a class, and introduce basketball to the kids.  We teach them some skills and competitions and show them what to do.  I thought it was a great success and hopefully some continue to play!!  That is the ultimate goal here.  Hopefully we will continue this in more schools around Umeå this year.  It's so fun to see how excited the kids get to see us!!  It's really rewarding I think to coach these small kids, because they have so much fun and want to learn more.

Well before you know it, it's going to be game-day.  I am looking forward to it!!  That's the reason I play basketball...because I love the competition.  Time for bed now for me.  Practice has worn me out these past few days.

A quick little shout-out to the one!!  You know who you are...Love you!!

Take care everyone...

KRAMAR