Excited for the Red Bull Flugtag! July 31, 2008

Have you ever heard of the RedBull Flugtag? It is a spectacularly fun event! This Saturday, August 2nd will be the 2nd time the Flugtag has been in Portland. The first time was in 2004, and somehow I ended up downtown by myself. I went and had so much fun! I’m a really social person, so I was impressed I had so much fun at this event by myself. This is what the official website says about the Flugtag:

“Red Bull Flugtag challenges teams of everyday people to build homemade, human-powered flying machines and pilot them off a 30-foot high deck in hopes of achieving flight! Flugtag may mean “flying day” in German, but all these crafts ultimately splash into the waters below. They are judged not only on their flight’s distance, but creativity and showmanship as well. 

This year, my GNG (Girls Night Girls) are all getting together to go. Well, one of them can’t make it, but the rest of us will be there. We are meeting for brunch before hand, and then getting some seats (probably close to the beer garden) to watch the event.

In an ironic turn of events, I emailed this guy I used to date, Fauxhawk a few days ago to see how he was. He told me that the resturant he works for is competing in the Flugtag and he’s on the team! Knowing that Fauxhawk is participating in the Flugtag just makes it even more funny! I am really excited!

(Before this blog, I had another blog, and in THAT blog I wrote a lot about Fauxhawk. I called him that because he’d wear his hair in a fake mohawk most of the time. Things were never serious with us, but we casually dated for over a year. He’s a chef, and I have a day job and a child half of the time. The only times we really had to see one another were after midnight on the weekends, and weekend mornings. We’ve hung out a few times since and I’ve realized we really don’t have anything in common other than an unhealthy love for going out, Jagermiester and Red Bull and a super hot attraction to one another. A relationship that does not make. Although it did make for a pretty fun year!)

Odd Things That Make Me Smile July 30, 2008

In light of trying to be a more positive, happy person again I have decided to write a short list of things that make me happy that I can reflect upon when I start being negative. I’m not going to throw the usual, “My son” “My friends and family” on this list, because that’s kind of a given.

Polka dotted umbrellas

Miracle Whip…that’s right, no mayo for me!

Tube socks, they remind me of my dad

Monkeys in hats, or clothes of any kind for that matter

The song, “Freeze Frame” by the J. Giles Band. The video used to freak me out as a kid, but now the memory makes me giggle

The word “giggle”

Big 80’s hair

Drink umbrellas

Office supplies, bonus points if they are “cute” office supplies

Cowboys…not old west cowboys, but modern day cowboys.

Hiccups

Live music

Gerber Cherry Juice…I don’t know if they still even make it, but until my sister and I were in junior high my grandmother would keep these tiny baby juice sized bottles of it around for us. It would be delicious with a little cherry vodka and soda in it!

Typing very quickly without making a mistake (I totally made a mistake typing this sentence! Go figure!)

The Wizard of Oz…it was an essential part of my childhood.

When someone remembers the TV show, “Today’s Special!” It was on Nickelodeon when I was a kid, and sometimes I think my sister and I are the only people in the world that remember that show.

Public Transportation and the people who use it. I was pleasantly surprised when I moved to Portland and realized that people who take public transportation aren’t dirty and creepy. They’re usually incredibly cool and helpful!

People who wave in traffic when you let them over. It is so rare that this one really, truly makes my day! I always give the Thank You Wave. My son still asks me who I’m waving to!

I want me back! July 28, 2008

Have you ever had one of those moments, when all of a sudden you don’t recognize who the hell you are anymore? That’s my today. I’m not sure who this cynical, negative woman is who I have become. I don’t like her one bit. She’s chubby, and not too motivated. She no longer sees the best in people, but their faults. She gossips.

I used to care about my body, and treat it with respect. Of course it got rewarded with Taco Bell on occasion, but not on a disgustingly regular basis. I used to be able to keep in contact with all of my friends, without having to have 4 hour catch up sessions because it has been so long. I used to laugh a lot more than I do now. I used to feel compassion for people, not think, “Well, they got what they deserved!” I used to be in control of every aspect in my life, and now I feel as though I’ve played a little Russian Roulette with it, and the ball is nowhere near the number I bet on.

As of today, I am taking my life back. I am ging to find the me I used to be. The happy, fun-loving, in control me.

I think my sister was right July 26, 2008

For this past week, I have been watching C and his future step-brother Kaiser in the evenings and mornings. Not the entire week, but the majority of it. Matt’s fiance’s niece drowned last Sunday, so of course Matt and Jessica rushed to be by Jessica’s sister’s side. I volunteered to watch both boys so that they could take care of what needed to be.

We’ve had fun! I love getting the extra time with C, and Kaiser has really matured and is pretty fun too. He’s just over 4 years old. In the wake of such a tragedy, it’s easy to remember how precious every life is and cherish the time with your loved ones.

Cherished time over!

This morning I got to Matt’s at 8am, so he could go back down to be with Jessica and her sister for the funeral. As soon as I got here, the boys woke up. No biggie. C climbed onto the couch and lay down with me, we cuddled for a while and watched some t.v. Matt was still here, and Kaiser was being good. Matt’s mom showed (insert super dramatic eye roll here) and then the two of them left.

Thinking back on it now, Matt’s mom may be where this morning started going downhill. I really cannot stand that woman. She loves the crap out of my son, which is fantastic. But let me write for you our dialog this morning. I am not exaggerating at all. This is our conversation ver batim. Keep in mind that we haven’t seen one another in probably 6-9 months.

Me: Hi Carlee.

Carlee: Hi boys! (Talking to C and Kaiser)

Me:…

Carlee: Matt, I brought you 2 jars of my jam.

Matt: Cool! Thanks.

Carlee: (To me, surprisingly) I got 2 ribbons at the fair for my jam. My raspberry got a blue ribbon! And then my strawberry jam got a red ribbon.

Me: Oh wow, cool.

Carlee: That’s first and second place.

Me: Ya, that’s awesome.

Carlee: And I got another prize for $25.

Me: Really?

Carlee: Cash.

Me: Oh…cool. (Slightly confused. I didn’t expect she’s get $25 in biscuits or anything.)

Hold on, the boys are hungry…

Okay. Now I know the conversation with Carlee wasn’t mean, and she wasn’t insulting me. But in a backhanded way I feel like she is. Never does she ever ask how I am doing, or what’s new with me. It’s always all about Carlee. Wouldn’t you think you’d be interested in the life of the person who is raising your grandchild at least 50% of the time? I’d like to think I will be if C ever decides to have kids!

So the whole Carlee experience happened. Her and Matt left. And immediately C and Kaiser start bickering. Not full blown arguing, but it was enough to get on my short, fragile nerves. I am the mother to one most of the time, well behaved son. 50% of the time. Half of the time. Not all of the time. Not 2 kids all of the time, or even 2 kids half of the time. I realize that there are parents out there doing it on their own 100% of the time, and those people are my hero’s. I did it for 6 months on my own, with immense support and help from family and friends and it was SO FREAKING HARD. I cannot imagine 18+ years doing it on my own. The women and men who are out there doing it alone right now, I just want to hug them. No, better yet, I want to send them on vacay for a week with their friends. Maybe I should start a charity for that…we’ll call it KSPS, Keeping Single Parents Sane. Because seriously…they need that.

It’s been 2 hours since Matt and his mom left, and I’m already pulling my hair out. Right now is the longest they’ve gone without bickering, and it’s only because they have their mouths full of breakfast. I have seen a few death glares though. What that was for, I have no idea. They are each eating what they wanted for breakfast, and I’m letting them sit in front of Nickelodeon while they eat. Once they are done eating and I know they aren’t choking on their breakfast, I am going to shower as quickly as possible, get them dressed and ready for the day and we are headed to the park. I’m packing us a picnic lunch, and we are going to spend the day at a place where they can run around and scream and yell until their little boy hearts are content.

In April my dear friend Leann gave birth to her second baby girl. I was fortunate enough to get to witness the miracle of life when Alyssa first entered our world. I’m a sentimental person to begin with, so of course seeing one of my best friends give birth to a beautiful baby girl put me on emotional overdrive. I had just watched my niece enter the world a month and a half before that, and 2 other close friends had just recently had babies.

While leaving the hospital after Alyssa’s birth, I called my sister boasting about how proud I was of Leann, and how perfect Alyssa was. I told my sister, “Being around all of these newborns, and seeing the births of babies really makes me want to have another one!” I was telling my sister something I truly wanted to do at that point, which was a big thing to say, because C wasn’t planned, and honestly I had never planned to have kids. My sister laughed at me! She really honestly laughed at the thought of me having another kid, and she said, “Ummmm no! You do not need another kid. One is enough for you!”

I think she was onto something…

What the hell happened to me? July 25, 2008

I used to be this really nice, kind-hearted gal. Not to toot my own horn, but seriously, probably one of the sweetest people you’d ever meet. Lately I’ve noticed that I’ve become kind of bitchy. And a total smart ass. And a lot bitchy.

Right now I’m helping plan my ten year high school reunion. Which apparently I signed up for when I became Associated Student Body President my senior year of high school (yes, I was that girl) I had no idea that was a life long gig when I ran for ASB President! Anyhow…in reconnecting with the 280-some people that were apparently in my graduating class, I received a very nice email from a girl that I was friends with in high school.  This is an excerpt…everything inside the ( and ) is added by me. Of course the names have been changed to protect the innocent, blah blah blah:

“I was thinking of you the other day.  I remembered how you let me be a prom princess, or whatever its called (Homecoming Princess), over Sally b/c both Joan and Diane (Joan and Diane were her best buddies, her posse, her peeps) were already voted in even though you and Sally had been friends longer – and then never told anyone (oops…so much for that now!) I thought then, and think now, that that was really a neat, mature thing for you to do.  It meant alot to me then, it would have really sucked to sit and watch them be a part of that, and while that seems so trivial to me now – the act of what you did still reflects so well on how thoughtful you were.  Anyway, that was just a long way of saying Thank you. ”

So what happened was that I was in charge of counting all of the votes for Homecoming Court. This friend, let’s call her Cathy, and Sally had exactly the same number of votes. I hadn’t voted yet. I knew that Sally had been on Homecoming Court previously in high school, and it wasnt’ that big of a deal to her. Sally is very down to earth, and grounded in reality and a very sweet, kind person. Far better than I am now, or ever have been! I mean, for God’s sake, she’s a special education teacher. Anyhow, I’m getting side tracked. I knew that Cathy would be bummed if both Diane and Joan were Homecoming Princesses and she was left out. So I cast my vote for her. I’m very happy that it made her happy. But in thinking on it now, which I had totally forgotten about until Cathy brought it up, why did I tell Cathy?!? I should have just cast my vote, and kept my mouth shut. Apparently I couldn’t stand it being just a good deed gone unnoticed, I had to tell her about it, so she could be grateful for it. And thank me for it. Ten years later. Wow…I’m something else, I tell ya.

So, in telling you that story, it doesn’t illustrate my point at all. It actually disproves my stand that I was the sweetest person you’d ever meet. Although it was a nice thing to do, I reaped the benefit of being this angelic, sweet as sugar friend in Cathy’s mind, even all of these years later. I would have been the sweetest person ever had I just let it go unknown to Cathy.

As it turns out, maybe I’ve always been a bitch. I’m sure my sister would say this last statement is true. She loves me to death, but will give it to you straight. Maybe I’m just a fake. Which is far more disturbing to me than being a bitch.

What do you think? Is it better to have a snatchy dialogue constantly through your head, while on the exterior you’re smiling and complimenting someones ugly shoes? Or is it better to just be upfront and honest, even if it’s not the nicest?

To lighten things up a bit… July 24, 2008

Here are a few photos from our Rogue River rafting trip a few weekends ago. These photos were taken by Leann’s mom, who was on the trip with us, but didn’t raft. Fortunately for us, her and her husband followed us on the above road, and snapped pictures! How cool!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vampires! It’s got to be vampires! July 24, 2008

Mom was given 6 pints of blood yesterday, and her hemoglobin went from 4 to 12. It is supposed to be at 17. Where is all of this blood going?? I think vampires! Hahaha.

Mom was released from the hospital last night. I say “released” because she was never actually admitted, therefore could not be discharged. That’s what you get in Podunk Coquille, Oregon I guess. Poor mom was stuck in a room that had no tv AND had no phone for 24 hours.

She has a follow up appointment this afternoon, and then a scope tomorrow to see what’s going on with her esophagus. Thanks for all of your thoughts everyone!

Update on Mom July 23, 2008

She’s still at the hospital. The nurses were supposed to call my sister when the blood transfusions were done. They anticipated it being around 4 or 5 in the morning. Brandi woke up at 6am and they hadn’t called yet. She called the Charge Nurse and the 2 units of blood mom was given didn’t raise her blood level AT ALL. They were giving her 2 more units of blood when Brandi talked to them. Don’t know anything more.

If you have an extra good thought, or prayer in you, could you pass it on to my sister. She has 29 kids, and now she has to take care of my mom too. She’s really going to need some extra thoughts today!

What I Know So Far… July 22, 2008

My mom was having trouble breathing tonight, and had to be taken by ambulance to the ER. Brandi is with her, and she is doing ok. They did a chest xray, and her heart and lungs are fine. Her esophagus is problematic, and she only has a 1/4 of the amount of blood that she should. The blood thing is a result of gastric bypass surgery she had 7 years ago and her not eating properly and getting enough nutrients. She is getting 2-4 quarts of blood tonight, and then they will release her. I really wish she’d pull her head out of her ass and take care of herself. She’s 48 years old for goodness sake…she knows better than this!

Freaking out July 22, 2008

I just got a call from my sister. My mom is in an abulance right now, on her way to the Emergency Room. My sister didn’t have many details, but apparently she couldn’t breathe. For those of you who know my mom, you know there is a history of an unhealthy lifestyle. All I know is that her roomate heard her honking the horn in her van, he went outside and saw her waving her arms. She told him she couldn’t breathe, and he called an ambulance. My sister is on her way to the hospital right now.

I feel so helpless. I’m over 200 miles away. And I am watching my son and Matt’s fiance’s son because they have been out of town, because his fiance’s niece drowned on Sunday. Thankfully they will be back shortly.

Please keep my mom in your thoughts. If you pray, prayers would be appreciated.

Christian is going to be a big brother! July 22, 2008

Before you get any crazy ideas, let me just say, HELL NO! I’m not pregnant. Jessica, Matt’s fiance is pregnant. Now I have some thoughts on this that I will keep to myself. Most of them are centered around the fact that this wasn’t an accident, and that my personal opinion…well never mind. My personal opinion doesn’t matter.

Christian is going to be a big brother, and he is very excited about this. I am really very happy for him. He is going to be an amazing big brother. He is such a caring and compassionate kid. I really hope that he doesn’t decide that he hates this child once it’s born. Or, even worse, that he loves it so much he relentlessly nags me about having one. Ohhh…that would be the worst!

B is for Boys… July 18, 2008

I love boys. I really, really do. Not just in the sense that I’m “boy-crazy”, but boys just seem like such an alien creature to me. Slowly but surely I am starting to understand some of the mystery of the male species.

I grew up in a small family of four; my dad, my mom, my sister Brandi who is 18 months younger than me, and myself. From the time I was a wee little lass, until I was in 8th grade, my dad drove a long haul truck. Meaning he would be gone from 2 days to sometimes 2 weeks at a time. A lot of the time it was just my mom, sister and I. We did all sorts of girly things. Played Barbies, went shopping, had dance parties in the living room to Def Leopard, Debbie Gibson, and Michael Jackson. I have a few boys cousins on my dad’s side of the family, but we only saw them on Sundays at my grandparents for dinner most of the time.

When I had my gender-revealing ultrasound with Christian, and found out he was a boy, Matt and I both got a little emotional. Matt, because he was super stoked to have a boy. Me, because I was scared shitless. I didn’t know what the hell to do with a boy! I had a lot of male friends in high school, but not many when I was a young kid. I didn’t understand the appeal of Hot Wheels, mud pies and catching frogs. I was so scared that I was going to be a horrible mother because I didn’t know how to raise a boy. If the ultrasound technician had told me that we were having a girl, I would have been smiling ear to ear, imagining hours of tea parties, Barbies, baby dolls and closets full of dress up clothes. But a boy….I came up blank.

As it turns out, I love the crap out of having a boy! It is almost like I get to go through childhood again, but this time as a boy. I’ve become less of a wuss, have learned to enjoy a lot of stereotypical “boy” activities. To be honest though, I still don’t understand Hot Wheels. What is so fun about pushing a car back and forth? Being Christian’s mother has given me the opportunity to experience so many things that having a girl I never would have. And I absolutely love it!

Now grown boys, commonly (and most often inaccurately) referred to as men, I still don’t understand much. I’m getting it a little more these days. In general though, I just don’t understand their thought process.

Take B for example. Okay, we all know B finally fessed up that he had just ended a long relationship before we met. I understand why he wants to be single for a while. Totally get it. Then why did he answer my personal ad??? (Yes, I had a personal ad out there. It was my the first, and only, and B was the only guy I met who responded to my ad) It wasn’t like I was seeking him out. In my ad it said I am looking for someone is wanting a serious relationship. So…why did he reply? I didn’t even have my picture in the ad. I’m not saying that men would respond to my ad because of my picture, just making the point that it’s not like B saw me and thought, “Wow, I have to meet that girl!”

So, now B’s little friend from back east has come and gone. I haven’t seen B since before I left for Vegas. I’ve been so busy, I honestly just haven’t had the time. We’ve been in contact though, via email and text messages. Yesterday he emailed me the sweetest emails. Telling me he missed me, and couldn’t wait to see me. Then we talked on the phone last night a few times, him telling me again how he missed me and how it’s been too long. I really am trying not to make more of it than it probably is (although what I just typed really sounds like I am making more of it!) I’m just wondering if something in his mind has changed.  Of course I am not trying to get too excited about it, because I’m sure that’s not the case because that’s just not how my love life works.

If everything goes according to plan, B and I are hanging out tomorrow night. I’m really so excited to see him. I have missed him, too. As always, I’ll keep you posted!

Let’s talk smut, shall we? July 17, 2008

I’ve been so busy having fun in my own life, that I feel I’ve been out of the loop of the celebrity smut. I’ve gotten somewhat caught up, and there’s a few things I’d like to discuss.

Andy Dick

I really have nothing to say about his drunken/drugged behavior (hey…who am I to judge?), but is this not the creepiest picture you’ve ever seen? Hello psychopath!

Sara Jessica Parker

De-moled? Really? After so many years, I’m shocked that she would get rid of the mole. I guess that she has had some pretty negative comments on her looks this past year, but wow. I always thought she was pretty freaking cool for not getting rid of it. That she was so confident in who she was that she didn’t care she had a large mole on her chin. Here is a before and after. Apparently the after has not been altered. I guess her new, naked chin made it’s debut at the 2008 All-Star Game.

Granted, she looks stunningly beautiful in the after picture, but that’s just the difference a nice, healthy fake tan will give you. All in all, I’m kind of bummed about the disappearance of the mole.

Fort Knox

Seriously…Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt named their son, Knox Leon. I have no problem with Vivienne Marcheline, I think it’s very pretty, and well…very them. But Knox…well, it just sounds so far out there. Every time I’ve heard it, I think of that old song, “Knock three times, on the window if you want me. Twice on the pipes, if the answer is no.” And then there is Fort Knox, and all of the jokes that will be associated with that name.

Is anyone else over the outrageously absurd celebrity baby names? And don’t even get me started on Honor and Sunday Rose!

Real Life Unicorns July 16, 2008

This last weekend C and I went camping and rafting with 33 of our closest friends. It was C’s first rafting experience and he loved it. We had such a great, great time. The weather was perfect, mid to high 90’s I’d say. I know that sounds high, but when you’re in the river and that cold water is splashing on you, you want the sun to warm you up quickly.

This weekend my sister is going to be in the area, and will have my niece Riley’s birthday party up here! I’m so excited. Riley is the cutest little girl ever! I adore that girl. This is the conversation I had with her a few weeks ago:

Me: Riley, do you want Auntie to take you shopping for your birthday, or do you want me to buy you a present and it will be a surprise?

Riley: I want it to be a surprise, so you can wrap it up.

Me: Okay, can you give me some ideas of what you would like for your birthday?

Riley: Ya! Um….oh! You could get me a real life unicorn, and wrap it up, and I could come to your house, and unwrap it, and say, “OH THANK YOU AUNTIE FOR THE REAL LIFE UNICORN!”

Me: I want a real life unicorn too!!!

It was a funny conversation to me because a few weeks before that I had been joking with one of my bosses and he had asked me to do something for him. Being a smart-ass I asked him what was in it for me. He asked what I wanted, and I said a unicorn. I love that my little Princess is taking after auntie and asking for the impossible.

She is actually becoming a girlie girl now too! My princess who used to throw a fit when you tried to put her in a dress or skirt, will now only wear dresses and skirts. I LOVE IT! Maybe she won’t be a tomboy after all! Not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s just that I have a boy. And she’s my first niece, and I expected her to be my little doll to dress up, but then she refused! I think that we’re definitely making progress though!

A few pictures from Vegas July 16, 2008

Here are a few pictures from Vegas. One of my best friends Leann is an incredibly talented photographer (she is starting her own business: www.starryeyedphotography.com) and these are pictures that she took on our trip.

So…the first two pictures are of the scary 15th Floor at Planet Hollywood. You can imagine that at 3am after you have had a few (too many) cocktails how freaky this would be. Especially considering you are anticipating walking into a normal hallway. Then there is the picture of Karrie and I in the lobby of Planet Hollywood. Then Lisa, my dorky self, and Karrie in the lobby. Then there is the photo that is Leann’s artistic summary of our trip…vodka, sunglasses, blister band-aids, etc…Then the next two are of the Go Go Dancers that Planet Hollywood had dancing on platforms in the casino in the “Pleasure Pit”. And the last photo is of the exterior of Planet Hollywood.

More to come soon!

Back to Vegas…. July 10, 2008

So the morning of Day 2, we all wake up and decide to try out Planet Hollywood’s buffet. It had been rated the Best Buffet in Vegas in 2007, and we had a $25 dining credit there, so we thought we should probably get our money’s worth. For less than $3.50 a piece (!!!) we had the yummiest buffet breakfast. Just what I had in beverages would have cost me more than $3.50 (milk, coffee, water, Diet Pepsi…yes I was dehydrated.) On top of all of the beverages, I was able to cram some really really yummy food down my throat too. It was amazing. Stations for any different kind of breakfast food you could imagine. And dessert! Dessert with breakfast…they don’t call it Sin City for nothing!

After all catching up over breakfast, Karrie and I decided to play the slots a little bit. Leann still wasn’t feeling fantastic, so she went upstairs to nap, and Lisa was on a mission to fulfill one of her life dreams of visiting an Oxygen Bar. Karrie and I spent, oh…6 hours sucked into this penny slot game called Gold Fish. Oh how I miss our little fishies. Eventually Lisa came and found us, and she got sucked into the Fishie game too (I see how people can develop gamblingaddictions now!) At one point I was up, but ended up loosing my $. Which was okay, because it was only $20, and honestly there isn’t much else that you can get 6 hours of entertainment out of for $20. And we had free mimosas the whole time we were sitting there. So really, even though I spent $20, it was way worth it. And the fishies…we had SO much fun playing that game. There was clapping, and whooping it up, you’d think we were playing for millions.

So, after some time with the fishies, Leann came back downstairs. We decided food was a necessity. Connected to our hotel was The Miracle Mile, and inside of that was the Hawaiian Tropic Zone. We figured…”Hey, we’re 4 straight women in Vegas…We should probably go have dinner at an establishment where our food is served by attractive women in bikinis!” Seriously…there was no logic behind it. I blame it on the mimosas. Anyhow…the food was pretty spendy and not anything to write home about. Leann didn’t like either of the items she ordered, and the Asiago Fries almost made her sick again. Poor thing. She thought they tasted like lighter fluid!

After dinner, we went back up to our rooms to get ready for Night 2. We had decided to go to Diablo’s Cantina which Karrie and I had been to in September. We had such a great time there on the previous trip, we ended up there two nights in a row. Karrie decided she wasn’t quite up to another night out, so it was just Lisa, Leann and I on Friday night. We got to Diablo’s, and these cute boys from Arizona decided they’d get in easier if they said we were withthem (which was funny, because there wasn’t a line!) and offered the doorman $40 for all of us. This was even more amusing because I think the cover charge for the guys was $10, but I’m pretty sure ladies were free. So we got some drinks and sat withthem for a while. I was having a nice conversation with the cutest guy, when another guy decided they needed to go…which was only seconds after he figured out Lisa was married! lol Oh well! Lisa, Leann and I had a great time dancing and mingling. Around 1am or so (this is a very vague time reference) we decided to head back to Planet Hollywood, where we are staying.

So, Planet Hollywood is obviously celebrity/Hollywood themed. Outside of the casino, they have a faux red carpet, flanked by velvet ropes where you can pretend to be the celebrity and your friends can pretend to be the paparazzi. Obviously the best idea in the world at 1am (ish) when you’re half buzzed. Lisa, Leann and I were on our way over to pose on the red carpet when all of a sudden Lisa pulls this cute surfer looking dude out of the middle of the road. He was about to get hit by a car. He looks at her like she’s crazy, and says, “What did you do THAT for?!?” And of course she explains to him that he was in the road, which is not just any road, it’s the Las Vegas Strip! And she tells him she saved him from being hit by a car. And dude says, “Really? You care!!!” Obviously intoxicated. So Lisa introduces herself, and vice versa. And then a light bulb goes off in her head, and she realizes he’s cute, and she should probably introduce him to me. So she makes the introduction, and it’s immediately a Love Connection. I mean we went from shaking hands to holding hands instantaneously. Dude and I are inseperablefor the rest of the night. I drag him around with Lisa and Leann and I through the casino. We’re acting like we’ve been a couple for years. It’s quite hilarious. At one point we got asked if we were newly weds! lol Gotta love Vegas!

Anyhow…best story of the trip, in my opinion anyway. Dude wants to go to his room for something. At this point we are at the Planet Hollywood casino still. And I say, “Where are you staying?” He says, “Here!” So we find the elevators, and he tells me he’s on the 15th floor. So we push the 15 elevator button. It doesn’t stay engaged. We push it again. And again, and again and again. And it just doesn’t work. So, we decide we’ll just go to the 14th floor and take the stairs up to the 15th floor. It was a miracle we found the stairs, it was quite an adventure. We finally find the stairs, and climb them to the 15th floor. It honestly at that point felt like I was climbing Mt. Everest. I open up the door from the stairwell to the 15th floor. OH MY GOODNESS. I have never been so freaked out in my life. Imagine this…you open a door expecting to see a well lit hallway, colorfull carpet, people stumbling to their rooms. Instead you open a door and see a light shade of blackness, doors and walls that look charred by fire, and dead silence. There were no lights, there was no life, there was darkness. It looked like the entire floor had been lit on fire.

I back up and say something along the lines of, “What the fuck!” And Dude goes into the hallway just as dumbfounded as I am and says, “What the hell happened here? It looks like there was a fire! C’mon!” To which of course I say, “No way in HELL! That’s the scariest thing I’ve ever seen in my life! It looks like a horror movie!” And he says, “Well I have to find my room!” I tell him I’ll meet him downstairs. We quickly exchange numbers, and I run down to the 14th floor, run to the elevator, and go to find my girlfriends. I find Lisa and Karrie (who now feels better at 2:30am!) and tell them what happened. I was so freaked out. A minute later I get a text from Dude that says he’s going to the Imperial Palace. And I ask, “What’s at the Imperial Palace?” To which he response, “My room! Turns out I’m not staying here! I’ll find you downstairs!” lolI guess he called his friend he was staying with in Vegas and asked him what the hell happened to their room! His friend was like, um, nothing drunkass, I’m in our room. And Dude was like, no! It’s been burnt! Hahaha! I guess that’s when the pieces starting coming together.

The next morning all of us girls are having lunch together, talking about how creepy the 15th floor was. I google it on my Sidekick, thinking maybe I can get some info on it. Nothing. So Lisa, Leann and I decided to go check it out. I was so freaked out. It seriously had looked like a really scarry horror movie the night before.

So we go to the 14th floor, climb the stairs, open the door from the stairwell, and….start laughing. It’s being remodeled! It hasn’t been burnt, because let’s face it, that makes no sense! The doors and chair rail have been painted a really, really dark purple, and there was still overspray! It seriously though didn’t have any overhead lights, just one flood light at the far, far end of the hall. Even totally sober, it looked like something out of a horror movie. The funny thing was, there was no Do Not Enter Signs, or Under Construction. So we walked around and checked out the rooms, which were all unlocked, and in varying degrees of construction. It was actually pretty cool once I realized I wasn’t going to pee myself!

More Vegas Coming Soon! July 9, 2008

I promise! I’m working on Day 2. It’s a doozey. A lot happened the 2nd day!

Back in Portland! July 7, 2008

And sooo happy about it. I really do love this fair city. It was nice to see my family in Coos Bay, but I’m happy to be home. And tired. Really, really tired!

So excited! July 2, 2008

So, normally I kind of dread going to home. Not becaues I don’t love my family, but the town is kind of depressing. It used to have a large lumber and fishing industry, and now…not so much. There is a huge methamphetimine problem in The Coos, and it depresses me to see all* of the people that I know not do anything with their lives.

I leave tomorrow for Coos Bay, and am really, really excited. For a number of reasons.

1) My family, obviously! My sister and my nieces. I haven’t seen Riley since Julia’s birth over 4 months ago. Riley’s birthday is next weekend, so I’ll get to give her presents this weekend. It’s her weekend with my sister, so I’ll get to spend lots of quality time with her. Then of course my little Julia Gulia, and my dad, and my Auntie Ann and her kids (my cousins who are 12 and younger) are all down there.

2) I am riding down with my friend Michelle who I’ve known since 5th grade. We live in the same town, but run in different circles and don’t see eachother more than a few times a year. I love, love, love Michelle. She is quite possibly the kindest person I know. Seriously. That is not even an exaggeration.

3) One of my bestest friends in the world, Quinn, will be in Coos Bay this weekend as well! Today is her birthday (Happy Birthday Darling! I love you!) We’ve been friends since the 3rd grade. This September we are taking a trip to celebrate our 20 year friendship anniversary. She has been a part of almost every life changing experience I have ever had. I mean, she was there when I took my pregnancy test. She is the reason I live in Portland. She is the “inside” of practically every “inside joke” I have. She was there when I met and dated Matt when I was 12, which led to the reconnection with Matt 7 years later, which led to the production of my child. Her family is like my 2nd family. I saw them just as much growing up as I saw my own. Annnnyyyyhow…I will be stopping by her birthday party at her mom’s house where her family will be on Saturday. And then riding home with her and her sister on Sunday. I am already anticipating my face hurting from laughing so much.

4) It’s the 4th of July weekend! The town is usually a little more hopping during a holiday weekend. There are fireworks at the casino on Thursday night, and then the ones the city put on Friday night. There is usually some kind of festival, or going ons.

5) I am sure that I will see a gazillion people I haven’t seen in ages. I LOVE that!

I hope the weather is nice. That would be an extra bonus!

 

 

 

* Technically not all. A lot though.