What You know about Vegas?

I will start with, "I LOVE VEGAS". Girls like me live for weekends in places like Vegas. This town never sleeps. All night long, you can do whatever the hell lights your fire, and you know what that means? No limitations.
No last call.
No public consumption charges.
No bottomless whining about what you didn't get to do. If you missed out on something it's because you were too lame or too slow to get it. Too bad, so sad. Keep up!
Playing with the Big Dogs - This is Vegas.
There is always a new club. Hot parties. Better looking chicks. Richer men. The top of the top, and the bottom of the bottom. Because there is always balance. In life there must always be balance.
As there are the best hotels there are the worst. The hottest women rival the skankiest skank. For every good looking, rich business man, there is a dirty con waiting to scam you out of something. Stay on your toes.

Old School Vegas, where names like Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra and the mafia remind everyone of what this town was built on. Showgirls and serious casino nightlife defined Las Vegas. Before nightclubs, strip joints and bachelor parties were the epicenter of the revolution of weekends in Vegas; before anyone gave a damn about spa's and buffet's, Las Vegas represented a sexy debauchery you could only be cool enough to partake in. Vince Vaughn showcased this in the film Swingers. Finding Hot Babies in Vegas was as easy as getting served alcohol at a black jack table. The Strip has made an international name for itself based on a lifestyle which started before strip-ers were even trendy.

Today we have the new hotness which changes every month. Clubs like Pure, Tao and Body English make their names on being new, trendy, and home to visiting celebrities. Clubs like Drai's have lasted long and hard because of their reputation for a rock-star party atmosphere. The party doesn't begin until 2a and rocks on until most Vegas tourists are getting out of bed to head down to their hotel pool.
The Maloof brothers have made a name for themselves as trend setters. They are ahead of the curve. This is what you have to represent to stay ahead in the hottest international destination for adults. The Maloof hotels and nightclubs have TV shows as backdrops. MTV hosted a Real World season there; not because their show was so hot, but because it had dropped in ratings and needed a boost to get viewers back in the hole. What could possible attract 15-30 years olds back into a weekly TV series? Why a weekly trip to seductive Vegas my friend. Whoever came up with the idea of housing the 7 strangers in the Palms Hotel was genius. Sexy 20 year olds having drunken hot tub sex and dancing sexily with one another in charming threesomes atop the newest Maloof Casino Nightclub Rain was just the icing on the topless cake. The Palms did a great job of drawing America right back into the MTV frenzy - keeping it hot, keeping it sexy - keeping it Vegas.

Bars like Ghostbar, Moon and the Playboy Club are keeping the attention of Vegas tourists, not only because they represent something fun and sizzling, but because The Palms is Rockin' and everyone who is someone (or not) wants to be a part of what's HOT in Vegas.

Everyone including liquor sponsors of nightlife and those that have something to gain by the high rolling/ rock star mentality which accompanies the funnest adult playground this side of the Mississippi.

Every girl who has ever grown up thinking she wanted to be a Playboy Bunny, or Carmen Electra, or Pam Anderson, or just married to a fuckin' rock star - these girls know you have to go to Vegas. You have to be a Life star. You have to rockin' hot, and sexier than you even know how to be. Because simply stated Vegas is sexy and everyone in the recesses of their mind wants to be a little sexy. Even my 85 year old Nana wanted to be a little sexy, even on her deathbed. She wasn't taking visitors without having someone help her with her hair and makeup. Her Pastor came for a visit and he wasn't allowed into her room until she felt her look was appropriate for any gentleman callers.
This is what I call old school Vegas - right till the end.

Public Service Announcement

DISCLAIMER: Excessive foul language
My apologies ahead of time


This blog is a result of my morning workout. Thank you MalaniKai for reminding me to give this public service announcement.
If you are sick - don't go to the Gym, where healthy people are trying to work out - and actively stay healthy.
Today (and this is not the 1st time), I'm getting my work out on! and this trifling, inconsiderate, sick, coughing, walker steps onto the treadmill next to me. Now, maybe if she was running (at least walking uphill), I'd have more sympathy...not really, but you can walk anywhere. Walk your ass to the mailbox. Walk to the store. Walk to your bff's house - I don't care, but why come to a public place where healthy people are actively trying to stay healthy and start spreading your germs. And you're not even putting any effort into your lazy ass workout.
Just plain, damn inconsiderate.
AND, such commonplace among American behavior today.

This could start an entirely new blog about why trifling parents drop off their sick, runny nose, pink-eye, whooping cough, crying kids at school, pre-school, nursery school, etc etc etc - with no f'n regard for other kids, other working parents, the teachers, and even the lunch lady. I know the economy is bad, but don't pretend you can't find someone to watch that snotty nosed kid for one friggin' day.
But, that's another blog - I'm sick of picking my kid up from school, with some new contagion that little Johnny or little Suzy brought to class. I shouldn't have to find out there is a new strand of chicken pox, b/c some inconsiderate parent happily dropped it off in my kids class. Now, I have to take a week off work, b/c this INCONSIDERATE, trifling Bitch or her Bitch-Assed Husband, ex-husband, Baby-Daddy, WHATEVER wouldn't stay home one day to wait for an antibiotic to kick in.
But, I digress, back to this blog on INconsiderate MoFo's who don't have enough courtesy to "STAY THE FUCK HOME when you are sick".

It's like that concept of how people catch the HIV - it's like sleeping with however many people the last person you slept with, slept with. At least then you have a choice - If your dumb ass doesn't want to wear a condom, you know you are going to be getting a little bit of the last 15 people that guy/ girl slept with.
If someone walks into your office, school, GYM, etc with their FUNK, coughing and sneezing in your face you have lost the control of your physical environment and been un-willfully exposed to someone's gross shit.

#1 Pet Peeve - you feeling me?
Not Appreciative.

On Turning 40

It seems I waited and waited for this birthday. I knew it would be life changing. I started my year thinking, "This year is going to be stellar for me; career-wise, in my womanhood, and just lifestyle changes." I had big plans for the year I turned 40.
Well, yesterday came and went.
Nothing spectacular happened. I went to work. I had appointments. People canceled on me. I went home. I made dinner. My kids sang. No big deal. Over the weekend I had events which were fun, but nothing screamed "You're 40 now!"
It really was just another birthday.
Then my God-father called. He said, he "was calling all old, broke-down women '40 and above', and I now made the list". This is my God-father. He stated, couldn't talk long, because "he doesn't talk to old women long". My mom's oldest and dearest childhood friend. Someone who tells it like it is, and you better not get your feelings hurt.
And I laughed. For the first time, all day, all weekend, I laughed.
We joked about his age. He turned the pointer back to me, and I laughed some more. I had now seen two sides to the coin. The side I was looking forward to - "fabulous and 40", and the side he brought me back to reality with, "it's all downhill from here baby, YOU OLD".
I still have so many plans for this year, and I know that 40 is the new 25 (for me at least), but all in all, I chalked it up to another day and made my schedule out for the rest of the week like I normally do on Mondays. Soccer practice tomorrow, Orchestra concert, lunches, dinners, dishes. Coffee with a girlfriend. Hopefully squeeze in a date night. Girls Night out - mandatory~

On turning 40

It seems I waited and waited for this birthday. I knew it would be life changing. I started my year thinking, "This year is going to be stellar for me; career-wise, in my womanhood, and just lifestyle changes." I had big plans for the year I turned 40.
Well, yesterday came and went.
Nothing spectacular happened. I went to work. I had appointments. People canceled on me. I went home. I made dinner. My kids sang. No big deal. Over the weekend I had events which were fun, but nothing screamed "You're 40 now!"
It really was just another birthday.
Then my God-father called. He said he "was calling all, old, broke-down women 40 and above, and I now made the list". This is my God-father, and he couldn't talk long,because "he doesn't talk to old women long". My mom's childhood friend. Someone who tells it like it is, and you better not get your feelings hurt.
And I laughed. For the first time, all day, all weekend, I laughed.
We joked about his age. He turned the pointer back to me, and I laughed some more. I had now seen two sides to the coin. The side I was looking forward to - "fabulous and 40", and the side he brought me back to reality with, "it's all downhill from here baby, YOU OLD".
I still have so many plans for this year, and I know that 40 is the new 25 (for me at least), but all in all, I chalked it up to another day and made my schedule out for the rest of the week like I normally do on Mondays. Soccer practice tomorrow, Orchestra concert, lunches, dinners, dishes. Coffee with a girlfriend. Hopefully squeeze in a date night.

Elementary School

After yet another day of struggling to get my child ready for school, I realize I must direct my frustration to the source. After 2 years of Pre-school and seeing my child's growth and desire for learning, we switched to a public school that I thought could offer my child more cultural diversity and a more complete learning opportunity. A different viewpoint and the choice of expanding the academic arena.
Almost two years later, I realize I made an error in judgment, and there are some things I will have to teach my child at home; besides manners, cultural diversity, social responsibility, etc.
I will have to let school solely serve purpose for academics.

I usually try to be as objective as possible when offering my opinion or experiences of anything because I do realize it is merely my opinion. So, I came up with a list of "thank you's" I'd personally like to offer Montclair Elementary School and the Denver Public School system.

First and foremost, thank you for never closing or delaying schedule for snow days.
Thank you for allowing my child to be harassed on the playground and allowing him the opportunity to learn new words even I don't know the meaning of.
Thank you to the principal for threatening my 6 year old child directly for events which happened while you were on maternity leave.
Thank you to the teachers which single out children for personal humiliation.
Thank you for segregating classrooms.
Thank you for changing my child's love of learning to a detestation of school.
Another thank you to the principal for engaging in a personal, emotional, unprofessional argument with my ex-husband on the topic of "unsubstantiated reasons your child was pulled from the accelerated class and placed in a marginal learning/ 50% esl class" - this was comical at best.
Thank you for the worst 2 years of my child's life.
Thank you for affirming why private school should always be an option.
Thank you Denver Public School system for keeping it real - Real mediocre.

Guns and the Promise of Tomorrow

This morning when I woke up, I turned my cell phone on and got ready to shower. My phone immediately went off and there was a voice message from last night from my sister.
Her 80 year old, kind, generous, lovely spirited grandmother had been shot and killed a couple blocks from her home.
Another RANDOM act of violence.
Black on Black crime.
Gun Violence.
Innocent bystander killed by a drive-by.

My sisters message was very powerful. We have different moms, and different maternal grandmothers, but we are very close and I consider her mom my mom. Note: our father was also killed by gunfire. But he lived a very different lifestyle. It was not random. He was not innocent.



Her message reminded me of how short and precious life is. She reminded me of my mantra, "Live every day like it's your last...don't take anything for granted...just LIVE."
She said, "Tomorrow is not promised."

This is a tragedy for everyone when something so unnecessary and violent smacks a community with it's internal hate. These problems will never cease. Teenagers with guns. Poverty. Gangs. Grandmothers driving their friends home getting shot in the head. Senseless. Her message was very emotional and reminded me of my struggle with staying positive. I feel tested often. I feel like LIFE sometimes sabotages my efforts at being positive. Hearing her voice, and feeling her anger. Internalizing that energy which can consume you if you let it, reminded me to stay calm. I took my shower. I went to work. I proceeded with my day. I didn't share my knowledge with anyone because I didn't know how to vocalize those feelings and stay positive. How can you stay positive? I understand her anger. I am angry.
I believe in karma.
I don't believe in personal retribution and vindictive behavior. Because of my belief in karma I turn the other cheek. I try to teach my kids to turn the other cheek. I try to love everyone, even when I get nothing back.
Just a couple weeks ago I wrote a blog about their being enough love in the world to go around. Today it's hard to share love. It's hard to look people in the eye. There is no music that can make this feeling go away right now.

Ski vs. Sand

I have been researching for an entire year on a new vacation spot to spend my 40th birthday with my favorite people. After a year of intensive searching, which included possibilities of Nevis, Greece, and even Cabo (not new not fresh, but convenient to my brother who lives in LA), it has been determined that due to circumstances beyond everyones control - this trip will not happen.
My sister is graduating law school and taking the bar. My brother just bought his first home and is planning a wedding this summer. My S.O. has a daughter graduating high school simultaneously occurring the week we were to travel. So, after a year of planning for me, the end result is travel alone, or wait until the end of the summer instead of my birthday month.
In the meanwhile I am trying to put together a mini-vacation. I just need to get away If only for 3 days, or for a week, I want to go somewhere. I have severe cabin fever. Now, my issue is getaway to a beach, and hope for a romantic getaway, or drive up to a local ski resort and have a few days of clean air and the possibility of a romantic getaway.



I am a beach baby. I need sun for sure, but I don't want to spend the money for a funtastic time someplace I've been a million times before and waste money that could go towards my big trip at the end of the summer. I know I just want to get away, so it really doesn't matter where I go to clear my head and have some peace. The value of the sun is not being overlooked, and there is some pretty good sun to be had on the mountain.

I think I have more issue with the fact that it's my 40th birthday and it's a landmark for me. I'm kind of a birthday whore anyway, so the fact that I will turn 40 without a cough in the empty auditorium kind of bums me out. I certainly do not want a pity party for myself, but it would be nice to be acknowledged and have my friends and family excited to celebrate an important day to me - at the end of the day the sand is just dirt and the snow will melt without my family and friends to share it with.