Good life decisions...

This week was a week of good life decisions.

Good life decision #1 - Starting a new job. I left a job where I was ruled by the Chinese (bad) to working for Americans (good). I also have a very grown up title "Director of Financial Reporting". I feel like I have accidentally stumbled into a career and have no idea how I got where I am, but I am glad and lucky and happy. It is going to be a good move for me (I think - I said that about the last job too.)

Good life decision #2 - Playing Singstar with Christy. I don't think I even need to explain more about that one, anyone can see how that would improve life.

Good life decision #3 - Seeing Flogging Molly in concert for the first time ever. I love love love them. This would fall into my top 5 concerts of all time (and yes, that top 5 also includes NKOTB). For those of you reading this saying to yourself "who is Flogging Molly?" I must scold you and direct you immediately to their website so that you improve your life with Irish Rock.

Good life decision #4 - Eating a pumpkin waffle at "Waffles", a new restaurant here selling nothing but waffles. (You would never guess from the name, right?) It was amazing, it had carmel syrup, whipped cream, powdered sugar. It has changed my life. For those of you in Las Vegas, the address is 5165 Fort Apache, near Trop and Fort Apache. I suggest you go right now.

So, obviously, good week.

I love roller derby...

I have a not so secret desire to be a roller derby girl. Last June, Cropstar found one of the greatest discoveries and hidden secrets of Las Vegas... we have a Las Vegas roller derby team, the Sin City Rollergirls. I highly suggest you check out their website here. We attended our first match in June, and we were hooked. It just looked like so much fun! The skating, the outfits, the throwing other girls to the ground! We immediately started planning our training schedule so that we too may become roller derby girls. Step one was to buy roller skates, step two was to relearn to skate seeing as how I have not been on a pair of skates for years. Sadly, we have not kept up with our training.

But, last night, the fire was lit again inside, as I attended the first roller derby match of the season. It was all I hoped it would be. Unfortunately, I do not have pictures to share, for two reasons. First, my camera battery died during the national anthem. Second, my official life photographer decided hiking was more important than roller derby. I don't know what she was thinking.

So, I may not be ready to be an official roller derby girl yet, but thankfully Halloween is upon us and I can live out my fantasy. Those of you spending Halloween in Las Vegas will have the pleasure of seeing all 7 members of our team, Viva Las Vegas, out in force, skating up a storm. The question I must now pose to the blogging world... what should my roller derby girl name be? For those of you unfamiliar with the roller derby world, you should know that every roller derby girl has a name, for example, Ruth O'Dare or Rose Shambo. I was thinking of Private Dancer perhaps? I need help! Suggestions?

I still believe in magic...

The magical Genius tool in my previous post has made me recall something that must be shared. A few weeks ago during a sleepover, Cropstar and I pulled out my old "All About Me" book from when I was 8 years old. I sure hope everyone out there had one of these. Below are a few direct quotes (original spelling):

If a fairy godmother suddenly appeared in my room one night and said I could have three wishes, I would wish:
(Written in my handwriting)
1. To be rich
2. to have madads (no idea what that was supposed to be)
3. to live in a machon (mansion)

(in my mom's handwriting)
1. Have peace in the world
2. Have anything I want come true
3. Help hunger and the homeless be taken care of

A few journal entries from the back of the book:
March, 1988, time 8:44pm: "Today started fine then evrey body hated me it has been going on for a long time."

September 23, 1987, Time 9:06pm: "Today I thought about magic" (My personal favorite, because still a common occurrence today.)

Maybe I AM a Genius...

Has anyone besides me discovered the beauty of the new iTunes Genius tool? If not, let me give you a brief rundown. Select a song in your library, the sidebar tells you songs by the same artist you are missing in your library, and suggests songs by other artists you might like. Click the Genius button, and magically a playlist is created using only songs in your library that are prefect compliments to the song you have selected. Like I said, magic. I feel like both a brilliant maker of playlists, and at the same time, a little embarrassed by songs that are actually IN my library. I swear I have NO IDEA how Ashlee Simpson ended up in my library. I didn't do it, I promise!

Making 5th grade fantasies come true...

In the 5th grade, I was a very big fan of New Kids on the Block. I had pins, I had cards, I even had dolls (but not as many as Melinda, the ultimate fan). When I found out they were coming to Las Vegas in concert, I was totally excited and asked my mom if I could go. My mother felt I was too young, and told me I couldn't go, which resulted in tears. Then, the day of the concert, a girl in my class told me she had an extra ticket and I could go with her if I wanted! Happiness! Joy! I hurried home after school to ask my mom, and after much begging and pleading, she finally agreed. Brace yourself for tragedy, I then realized I didn't have a number or address for the girl in my class, and no way to contact her. Needless to say, more tears followed this night.

Saturday night, after 20 years of waiting, I saw New Kids in the Block. BEST.CONCERT.EVER. (I have been to alot of concerts. ALOT. That is a big statement.) I screamed, I yelled, I became a 12 year old girl. There may have even been tears. I am not even at all embarrassed to admit this. They still look good, they can still sing, and more importantly, they can still dance. I thought, being 40 year old men, they might hold back. I was wrong! These old men pulled all the same moves from way back when, there was even break dancing! Break dancing! Sure, they may have had to ice down their hips afterwards, but they did it, and it looked good.

To add even more magic to an already magical night, we even got moved from the nosebleeds to side stage left, just because of our energy and obvious enthusiasm. When Jordan ripped off the shirt for the dancing in the fan, we were right there. After the show ended, and we watched them exit the stage, all we could do was hug each other. We didn't even have words. We knew Donnie was right, we HAD subconsciously kept that night open for 15 years. And, it was worth it.

Needless to say, this can't be the last time I see NKOTB. Tickets are still available for the Salt Lake City show, and I am taking a road trip. Who is coming with me?

***Pictures are coming once Melissa gets them downloaded!!!

My new favorite outfit...

I think this is totally worth $200, right?

Because I love cake...

I am a new member of the blogging community. I was reluctant at first, considering the pressure to be super funny/witty in each and every post, because let's face it, I am just super funny/witty in person. Always. But, Kaira has inspired me. If Kaira can do it, so can I, so here I am.

All good blogs must start with a great picture, which is why I have spent the past hour looking at pictures of myself only to discover I have far too many pictures of me eating or with my mouth hanging open. Why do I do this? What is it that possesses me to think I will look better with my mouth open?

But, you can't tell me you don't want a cupcake now...

This blog is dedicated to Kaira....

I did it. Happy?