About Amanda

"I was born to my Mother, Connie and Father, Dwight on October 27th of 1974. Hayward California is where we lived during the first five years of my life. In 1979, my Sister, Kristi was born and we had also just moved to Northern California to start anew. After living on John Born Road in Penn Valley for a few years, Mom and Dad decided to buy 20 acres of property four miles down that same dirt road we lived on. We spent our time over the next six or so years building a house, Mom's garden and growing up in the country. With our nearest neighbor miles away, we ran around naked as jaybirds at times, building tree forts and playing with all the animals we had at the time. (Goats, Geese, Chickens, Dogs, Cats). We lived without power or phone for many years. Dad hooked up a Generator and 12 volt batteries so that we could have some power. I remember to watch the color TV., the Generator had to be running. We had 50 gallon drums full of water set up a top the hill behind the house that siphoned the water into our home until we got our well. Between cutting firewood, clearing property and landscaping property in town, my family kept food on the table for the four of us. We had hand-me-downs and shopped at thrift stores for our school clothes except for the outfits my Mom would make for each of us on special occasions like Easter. Even though we were broke, I would never trade growing up in the country. I had some of my best and worst moments out there, in nature back on that four mile dirt road. I believe growing up in the country has helped me to keep my life more grounded while living in the city. It helps me to remember what is important and not to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the city and materialism. Growing up, my family struggled every day to make ends meet. I believe this is a big part of the reason why my Parents decided to separate after about 17 years of marriage. Mom and Dad sold the house, split up our things and Kristi and I moved into town to live with my Mother. Mom was working two jobs to keep us clothed and fed but in doing so, we barely ever saw her much. Dad rented a place nearby so that we were still able to see him sometimes. Their divorce was finalized sometime during this timeframe. We didn't live there long before my Mom decided it best to move Kristi and I to Las Vegas. We left California and got into Vegas on Oct. 1st, 1989. (The same day of what would have been my parents Anniversary). After a year or so, my Father missed us girls so much that he moved to Las Vegas to see us more. After another couple years, my Mother decided to remarry. With Dad not living with us and Mom focusing on her new Husband and life with him, I felt a bit out of place in my surroundings. This created somewhat of a rift between Mom and I back then and so it was mutually decided that I would move out of her house even though I was not yet 18 years old. Over the next few years I moved in with a couple female roommates, worked odd jobs and started to drink to much. I went through my wild stage and had to live through some pretty difficult experiences. These experiences made me slow down and be more cautious and careful with myself and how I conducted my life. I started to wise up some and realized that I was the only one that was going to take care of me. I started Cocktailing at Binions Horseshoe and then at the Las Vegas Club. I had my own apartment and was sustaining myself enough to live comfortably and get by. I then decided to find a job on the newer side of the LV Strip. Cleaner environment, better money and nicer patrons was my reason for changing. I took a job waiting tables at the All-Star Cafe (I was not cut out to be a food-server but took the position to at least be in the area of the strip that I wanted to work). At that time I had just sworn off dating men for awhile. That is where I met my wonderful Husband, Michael. After a few weeks of working there, he got the courage up to talk with me and instantly, we became good friends."