I don't know about you, but we don't need anything for Christmas. Everything we want we usually buy ourselves or if we don't have it, it is because it is too expensive to get and need to save for. We have a lot of friends that are the same. We know people who really you can rack your brain for weeks on what to get them, but either they already have it, don't need or want it, or it's out of the price range you want or can spend on them.
I read this article posted on a friend's blog about 31 Days of Giving back. Some of the things are not really anything I would do (like giving manicures at a local nursing home) But others are great ideas of ways to donate to causes in affordable amounts that I thought could be done on behalf of those friends who have everything. Here is the link to the article. I think it could make a world of difference for someone else while sharing the Christmas Spirit with the friends who have everything!
Remember, it is the season to remember friends and family and it is not what you give to them, but the caring thought behind it. Anyone can give a gift card, but a thoughtful friend will give you a gift card to a place that you frequent! Show the love of the season, even if it is a card to tell them they are in your thoughts. Peace!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Gobble Gobble, Nudge Nudge
Well, here it is again, another Thanksgiving! As I sit here and think about the many things that I am thankful for, I cannot help but reminisce over the past 11 years I have spent in Vegas. Here is a list of the things that I am thankful for because I lived in Las Vegas:
1. Walter. If I never lived here we would probably never have crossed paths.
2. My Bachelors degree. Living here got my ass on track, even if it took 9 years to get it.
3. My friends. Past and present. The ones I love and the ones who I don't really like anymore. They all have helped shape me into the person that I am today...good and bad.
4. The Experience. I am thankful for all the crazy experiences that I have had here. From the VIP night clubs to the summer beach vollyball, they have all been interesting and memorable.
5. The Realization of Self. Mostly over the past 2 years this has been more apparent, but also through my whole exisitance here, I have realized who I am, what is really important to me, and that those things I thought were important, really were not.
6. Casino work. While I may say that I hate it, it was not always bad. It definitely has been a trip and an experience that I really appreciate.
I hope that we all remember today that we should give thanks not only for our family and friends, but for life...the good and the bad, and all that we learn from it.
1. Walter. If I never lived here we would probably never have crossed paths.
2. My Bachelors degree. Living here got my ass on track, even if it took 9 years to get it.
3. My friends. Past and present. The ones I love and the ones who I don't really like anymore. They all have helped shape me into the person that I am today...good and bad.
4. The Experience. I am thankful for all the crazy experiences that I have had here. From the VIP night clubs to the summer beach vollyball, they have all been interesting and memorable.
5. The Realization of Self. Mostly over the past 2 years this has been more apparent, but also through my whole exisitance here, I have realized who I am, what is really important to me, and that those things I thought were important, really were not.
6. Casino work. While I may say that I hate it, it was not always bad. It definitely has been a trip and an experience that I really appreciate.
I hope that we all remember today that we should give thanks not only for our family and friends, but for life...the good and the bad, and all that we learn from it.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Moment of Realization
I had the bright idea to come home from work and start packing today. I wanted to start with the artwork so I would have time to patch holes and paint over the patches. As each piece of personality came down off the wall the house started to feel more dry and empty. I did not notice it at first, I was too busy carefully wrapping and placing them in boxes. It was not until I stood up and saw the stark white walls that a sadness set in. A whole long chapter of my life is ending. It is really ending. While I am so excited for the change, and no matter how much I say I hate Las Vegas, I am still going to miss it.
So many great things have happened in this town for me. I met Walter, I actually finished college, I worked inside a casino! I met and deleted so many friends. I learned so much about me and life that I cannot look at my stint in Vegas as a bad chapter, but an exciting part of my life! I learned to be poor. I learned to get what I want. I learned that sometimes what I want is really not what I want in the long run and to be satisfied with what I already have, because in many cases (the house) what I have is so far better than what I think I want. So many life experiences and education have come out of the past 11 years here, but it is time to end this chapter.
While my white walls scare me a little, and bring the reality that I really am leaving in 5 short weeks, they also excite me for the opportunity to fill new white walls I have yet to see. Viva Las Vegas! Viva Austin!
So many great things have happened in this town for me. I met Walter, I actually finished college, I worked inside a casino! I met and deleted so many friends. I learned so much about me and life that I cannot look at my stint in Vegas as a bad chapter, but an exciting part of my life! I learned to be poor. I learned to get what I want. I learned that sometimes what I want is really not what I want in the long run and to be satisfied with what I already have, because in many cases (the house) what I have is so far better than what I think I want. So many life experiences and education have come out of the past 11 years here, but it is time to end this chapter.
While my white walls scare me a little, and bring the reality that I really am leaving in 5 short weeks, they also excite me for the opportunity to fill new white walls I have yet to see. Viva Las Vegas! Viva Austin!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
California Dreamin'
Well, it seems life can deliver you lemons (like my job and boss from hell) but if you take those lemons, sell them, and book a flight to San Diego then fuck the lemonade and get out of Dodge! I have to leave in a few hours and am truly not looking forward to the return to life in Vegas. I don't want to go to work. I don't want to pack the house, I don't want to try and Craigslist the rest of the stuff we don't want to take with us.
I do want to see Walter. I do want to prepare for the move. I do want to move. Again...getting out of Dodge and this time for good. I realized while down here that normal hours do exist. Nice people and friends abound. And, if I did not know it already, my job makes me miserable and I need a new one.
I have had five full days of smiling and whimsy. I have not thought of work, breathed work, or missed work. I have a less happy face on now realizing that I have to return to work in about 16 hours. But, time to paste on a smile and move ahead. I only have 5 weeks left in hell, ummm, I mean at the Santa Fe, and I need to make the most of them. I do work with some truly amazing people and really enjoy their company. I will miss them. Unfortunately, we happen to work at one of the worst places (formerly a Fortune Top 100 Places to Work For until it went private earlier this year) and that makes us a little more on edge than we were in the past. I feel very lucky I am escaping. I guess I need not vent on my job from hell, but more so on my wonderful trip!
We are talking happy hour twice with Paco and cheap fish tacos and chicken flautas at Baja Betty's. A walk around and in the Hotel Del Coronado as well as a nice walk along the beach with a kite in tow. I got some wonderful shots while at the beach (yes, even some of hot guys) to add to my collection and maybe start my new series of works on So Cal hot spots. Off to a night at Pecs to see one of the new contestant on TOP CHEF who is a bartender there. We kicked off watching the season opener while enjoying heavily poured cocktails and having lovely conversation. I subsequently visited this bar each night for the rest of my trip. Hunky men, heavy drinks and a nice atmosphere.
We were heading to wine country in Temecula for a nice Saturday afternoon until wildfires broke out in So Cal and stopped 3 of our friends from coming to meet us there. Tossing up the thought of still going we decided to go anyway, just the 3 of us, and enjoy some wine and food there. On our way, the fates were against us and the car started acting weird and overheating causing us to rethink the trip. All the signs were saying not to go, so we adhered and turned around. We ended up in downtown San Diego at the Hyatt sipping wine and having an array of cheeses enjoying a spectacular view of all of San Diego and its surrounding beauty.
Now I sit back at home...time has passed and I have to work in 4 hours. I am going in rejuvenated, refreshed, and just waiting to see what hell has broken out over the past week I have been gone. Wish me luck!
I do want to see Walter. I do want to prepare for the move. I do want to move. Again...getting out of Dodge and this time for good. I realized while down here that normal hours do exist. Nice people and friends abound. And, if I did not know it already, my job makes me miserable and I need a new one.
I have had five full days of smiling and whimsy. I have not thought of work, breathed work, or missed work. I have a less happy face on now realizing that I have to return to work in about 16 hours. But, time to paste on a smile and move ahead. I only have 5 weeks left in hell, ummm, I mean at the Santa Fe, and I need to make the most of them. I do work with some truly amazing people and really enjoy their company. I will miss them. Unfortunately, we happen to work at one of the worst places (formerly a Fortune Top 100 Places to Work For until it went private earlier this year) and that makes us a little more on edge than we were in the past. I feel very lucky I am escaping. I guess I need not vent on my job from hell, but more so on my wonderful trip!
We are talking happy hour twice with Paco and cheap fish tacos and chicken flautas at Baja Betty's. A walk around and in the Hotel Del Coronado as well as a nice walk along the beach with a kite in tow. I got some wonderful shots while at the beach (yes, even some of hot guys) to add to my collection and maybe start my new series of works on So Cal hot spots. Off to a night at Pecs to see one of the new contestant on TOP CHEF who is a bartender there. We kicked off watching the season opener while enjoying heavily poured cocktails and having lovely conversation. I subsequently visited this bar each night for the rest of my trip. Hunky men, heavy drinks and a nice atmosphere.
We were heading to wine country in Temecula for a nice Saturday afternoon until wildfires broke out in So Cal and stopped 3 of our friends from coming to meet us there. Tossing up the thought of still going we decided to go anyway, just the 3 of us, and enjoy some wine and food there. On our way, the fates were against us and the car started acting weird and overheating causing us to rethink the trip. All the signs were saying not to go, so we adhered and turned around. We ended up in downtown San Diego at the Hyatt sipping wine and having an array of cheeses enjoying a spectacular view of all of San Diego and its surrounding beauty.
Now I sit back at home...time has passed and I have to work in 4 hours. I am going in rejuvenated, refreshed, and just waiting to see what hell has broken out over the past week I have been gone. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
OBAMA!!
I cannot describe the feelings that I have right now. I cannot explain why I had tears streaming down my face while listening to Obama's speech. I don't know why I feel the way I feel because I have never had these feelings during and election before. All I know is that I finally feel proud of my country again. I feel like we will be a world power to look up to and respect again. I feel that life will get better as a country, not as a selection of our country. I feel that everyone is better off globally. I feel like we can do it and be liked again. I am excited I am seeing history in the making. The first mixed race President of the United States of America, and I voted for him! I voted for change and I am excited and proud about it. Maybe that is where my unexplained emotions are coming from!
Monday, November 3, 2008
So Excited For The Election
I don't quite know why, and I don't quite know how since I am not a very political person, but I am so excited for this election tomorrow I cannot stand it! I cannot explain why or what is prompting me to even write about this, but I just am excited! So, it is no secret that I have already cast my vote for Obama. 5 months ago I would not even commit to voting because neither candidate really said anything that impressed me. I even had a friend yell and get mad at me over this. I told her that as soon as I heard something that would matter to me then, and only then would I decide to vote. I heard something from Obama, was impressed, and decided to follow a little closer than I had. It was NOT a party decision. It was a decision on what was spoken and sometimes what was held back. I like that Obama could hold back sometimes. I just pray that it will not be another 4 years under a "Bush-like" agenda. VIVA CHANGE! WE NEED IT! I will be plastered to the TV tomorrow night watching the polls close, so feel free to call if you want!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)