48 Hours on the Strip January 24, 2011

I took a quick trip to Sin City this weekend, sans children. My husband has a conference this week so we took advantage of some really low fares to enjoy the weekend.

This trip was mostly about eating and then shopping but not necessarily in that order. We stayed at T.I. (Treasure Island) and I forgot just how much I prefer staying on the Strip. So much cleaner, less smoky and way more stuff to do.

Some of my favorites this trip:
In-N-Out
Max Brenner (think chocolate everything)
Delmonico’s (this is an Emeril Lagasse restaurant and there are no photos as I was too embarrassed to be like Melissa)
Hash House A Go-Go (definitely on my list for the next trip)

Shopping was outstanding as usual at the Las Vegas Premium Outlet in downtown. Big scores include a Coach wallet to match the purse I bought in November, two pairs of high heels and a whole bunch of stuff from Ann Taylor. And my boys scored big at O’Neill and Quiksilver. Too bad the slot machines were so tight. It would have been nice to win some shopping money!  Enjoy the pics!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Let there be hope January 11, 2011

One of the few subjects I vowed never to write about is politics. Mainly because it’s so divisive and I’m likely to insult someone. However the recent shooting of a Federal judge and Congresswoman Gifford has left me feeling angry, sad and scared all at the same time. I have to vent.

I’m angry because extremists like Sarah Palin and the Tea Party have contributed to this incident. While this killing spree may not have been their intended outcome, their flagrant use of hateful, violent references give insane, gun-toting idiots like Jared Loughner a reason to assassinate anyone who doesn’t agree with their politics.

I’m sad for the victims and their families who have suffered a loss so horrifying and utterly senseless. Their pain is unimaginable and my heart breaks for these people. I am mostly sad about the death of 9-year old Christina Green who was at the rally to meet her congresswoman.  A beautiful child, born on 9/11 with aspirations for a career, was taken away from her family much too soon.

I’m scared that our society is on a slippery slope to self-destruction. Both the extreme right and liberal left need to do some serious soul-searching and find a path toward neutrality.  Political rhetoric is a given and the freedom to express one’s views makes our democracy great but we must use caution in what we say.  No one can predict what a mentally disturbed individual will do but carelessly throwing out references to violence against innocent Americans is irresponsible.  Extreme right media pundits such as Beck, Limbaugh and O’Reilly need to think long and hard about their influence on impressionable minds. How naive of Palin and her followers, including some members of the GOP, to think that unstable individuals would never view their statements as a call to action.

I believe that Americans are better than this and that this horrific act is not reflective of our society as a whole.  I believe that Americans are smart enough to deny the election of candidates who pander to the irrational minority.  I believe there is still good in my country.  I have to believe.

No Resolutions, Just Aspirations January 9, 2011

New Year’s resolutions are so yesterday.  I’m not making any for 2011 but I do have a list of aspirations, meaning “whoo hoo” for me if I make it, but no biggie if I don’t!

I aspire to (in no particular order):

• File all the paperwork in my home office, eventually.  Perhaps before the end of 2011.
• Bake my mom’s red velvet cake.
• Go to the gym at least twice a week versus twice a month.
• Lose 10 pounds before my next doctor appointment.  Hmm, maybe I should make that five pounds since that appointment is in February.
• Blog more often.
• Read more books.
• Play more golf.

So what do you aspire to in 2011?  Whatever it is, I wish you success!