Weekend Trip to Austin

Our great friend from UNT, Mina, had a baby about a month ago. The girls decided to get together to take a road trip to Austin to see her & the new baby. It happened to fall on the weekend before my birthday, so it was like a party trip & see the new baby trip all in one! :) Regina, Nicole, Yong, & I met at Yong's house Saturday morning. Lucky for me, Nic made Yong make us breakfast before we made the 3.5 hour drive. If you know anything about Yong, she is the best cook ever!!!! We had bacon, sausage, biscuits, and an omelet that had potatoes & asparagus in it. Maybe other crazy things, I'm not sure, but it was definitely excellent! :) On the way to Austin nothing really exciting happened. The only crazy thing was when Yong pulled out her iphone & wanted us to watch a video on the tiny screen (Regina & I were in the backseat & Nic was driving!). Then, instead of listening to the radio, Yong asked if we wanted to hear any songs from her iphone (like it could even really get that loud). Her choices were Mariah Carey, Beyonce, & Christina Aguilera, & I think only 1 or 2 songs from each. So silly! Needless to say, we stuck with the radio.

Then Yong got on a kick of talking about Nic's feet. "Skeletor feet" she calls them. Then Yong realized how small Nic's hands/fingers are & now Nic has become a midget in Yong's eyes. I'm actually surprised Nic didn't get mad b/c I don't call her Ninja Nic for nothing! :) But Yong did all her smack talking in the nicest way possible, or it was just so funny, what she was saying, that it made it ok to say. I'm not sure but I'm glad I to witness it all b/c it was entertainment for me! Here's a pic of Yong showing Nic how to choose smaller glasses of drinks to hold while in bars, so that her midget hands can hold them better:



The first time I'm holding Mina's baby:


Once in Austin we went straight to Mina's. Her baby, Nicholas Preston, was (is) adorable!! We hung out for awhile, all taking turns holding the baby. Too bad I was with 3 other girls that like to hold babies! It's not fun at all having to share! :( Mina was planning to meet us out for dinner so after a few hours we left to go to the hotel to check in & get ready for the night out. On the way to the hotel we stop at a liquor store so Yong can get 2 bottles of champagne for us to have in the room. First, she & I walk into the wrong door - & realize we are in the convenience store & walk back out, then walk next door & go in the correct store, the liquor store. We immediately get what we want & wait & wait at the counter...all for no one to even be in the store! I think if there weren't cameras, we could have stolen the bubblies & no one would have known! Of course we aren't that way, & of course I saw myself on the TV behind the counter...but where are the people that work there? Kinda spooky if you ask me! Finally I tell Yong we need to walk next door & ask the guy in the convenience store what's going on. As we walk in, they both walk out & apologize. So we finally pay & are on our way to the hotel. We check in, find our room, & GREAT - hear we have 30 more minutes of happy hour. Yong was so pleased to know she was correct & all of us were WRONG - happy hour was FREE! So we all had a glass of our favorite drink in the lobby area of our floor. We all got a little tipsy I think...maybe b/c of the lack of food in our system.

Then we get back to the room & get ready. Nic's cousin Melissa showed up. Mina showed up. We all had a glass of bubblies before heading out. I decided we should ask the concierge guy where we can go to eat out on 6th Street. Great-he tells us about a place & says there is everything on the menu & he made a reservation for us. We get there at 9:00. It takes maybe 10 minutes before we get our first drink. We notice it's a 'fancy' place for 6th Street, but whatever. Then we finally order awhile later...& it takes OVER AN HOUR to get our food! We kept waiting & waiting...Yong asks the waitress if we can at least have some bread. "of course!" did we ever get it? Nope! Then a manager comes by & asks if he can get us anything & we ask for bread. We get it immediately. Then we wait & wait...actually I'm surprised that no one at our table said anything about the slow service. We have Nic who I call "Ninja Nicole" for a reason! We have Mina & Yong who are my 2 loudest friends...& Regina, well, she is just a nice girl, I guess! ;) Finally, at 10:20 or so, Yong & I go to the bathroom & I say "we just have to leave, & the food will come". Sure enough, we get back to the table & our food is there. Yes, it took OVER AN HOUR! Crazy. At least we could all agree that the food was GREAT! Too bad it took OVER AN HOUR! :) The manager kept checking on us. At the end we said we didn't want dessert. I think we just all wanted out of there! Well, the manager brought us a bottle of champagne to share, & also a dessert. At least we got that but geez! So, we didn't get out of the restaurant until after 11!

The fun part of all that was during dinner, Yong talked about how it would be scary to surf b/c of the sharks. She now has a plan for when this happens. Let me fill you in so you can help protect yourself the next time you hang ten. First, wear a backpack & put a live chicken in it. Then when you see a shark, simply pull out the chicken & throw to the shark. Apparently that gives you enough time to swim or surf away. Oh yeah, let's not forget that you should have a gun as well. Keep it in a Ziplock bag since guns aren't water-proof. As I mentioned to Yong that sharks can smell 1 drop of blood from a mile away (thank you, TAKS passage, for teaching me that!) she said she would also stab the chicken with a knife so that the shark would go to the chicken instead of her. She didn't realize that would attract more sharks but whatever. As I type all this I realize it's not funny at all...but at the time she really had all of us laughing so hard!!

Yong shooting a shark:



Here's a pic of Yong looking scared if she were to see a shark:



After dinner we went to a couple different places on 6th Street to hang out & have some drinks. There was nothing really exciting that happened that night. I think we were all so full from a late dinner. Too bad Yong & I tried to keep tradition & bought a slice of pizza to share on the walk back to the hotel. Nope, it was cold & we were still too full from dinner. oh well.

The next morning we enjoyed our free continental breakfast, making a few trips from the room to the lobby area since all the tables were taken (& there were only about 5 of them!). After checking out we went back to Mina's to see her & the baby one last time. Then came the long drive home. Doesn't it always seem longer when you are driving home...tired from the night before & just wanting to be home??? On the way home Yong came up with a game where she rated the 4 of us in the car. She rated us on everything from jewelry to cooking to jeans to tv watching (I needed a category where I was #1!).

(Our 2nd trip to see the baby, on the way back home):




When we stopped for lunch we all were trying to agree upon a place to eat. Regina didn't want Taco Bell. Chick-Fil-A was closed, Nic didn't like Arby's, so we agreed to eat at Wendy's (I personally don't really like Wendy's, but didn't want to seem picky-haha!). We all go to the bathroom first & come out. I ordered first & as I'm getting my change back, Yong looks scared & says she saw the "biggest cricket ever" & used her fingers to show me a width of about 4" long. I pictured that & said "no way - a cricket that big?!" Of course I peeked down the hallway by the bathrooms & it was a dang cockroach! Yuck! I even hate typing that word! Well, as I'm being handed my food, I notice that NONE of the other 3 girls bothered to even order! The bam girls decided they didn't want to eat there. What the buck!? I walk out & decide to let them know "I don't even like Wendy's & I'm the only one with food from here!" I will admit that they offered to buy my lunch at the next place we stop, but I declined. I decided to tough it out & I know all restaurants are bound to have them. "Yes," Yong says, "but not all are out in the open, in the hallway by the bathrooms/kitchen!" Crap. So they all stop at Whataburger & get food & I just eat my kids meal from Wendy's. Oh well.

Back on the road...Nic & I try to convince Yong to make us wontons once we get back to her apartment. Yong was having no part of that. Too bad. Those are the best wontons I've ever had! Wait-they are the ONLY wontons I've ever had! :)

So, we make it back safe & sound & that's it! As I said, there wasn't too much craziness, but I had so much fun with the girls!!! :)
(I'm sure I left out something...but maybe Yong will post a blog & add in anything I missed!)

Birthday Surprise

Thanks to everyone for the cute cards you've sent me in the mail for my birthday! I had a great 33rd birthday....I went to Austin the weekend before with the girls to hang out, although the real reason was to see Mina's new baby boy. Throw my birthday into the mix & we killed 2 birds with 1 stone. Another entry on the Austin trip later, though. Until then...I just thought I'd write a quick post to tell you about the birthday surprise I received once I got to school on Monday.

After getting into my classroom around 7 a.m., I grab my coffee pot on my counter & hold it under the sink to fill with water (they are right next to each other). As it's filling up, I notice something in the water, INSIDE the coffee pot!!! What the crap?! Freak!!! It's a bucking cockroach the size of...well, you know the size of those that are found in schools. HUGE! It's alive too! Or maybe it's not, & it was just taking a little bath in my coffee pot & the water was moving him around?? Anyway I somehow didn't drop & break the pot, but put it on the counter, turned off the water, & ran to the middle of my classroom. I'm so glad I didn't have a class at this point! After being in the middle of my room for a minute & surrounding myself with space while looking around me to make sure he didn't have a friend...I called Mr. L & said "I need you...right away!" He knew what was going on. He came & rescued me. Whew! Needless to say I have disinfected my coffee pot so that I can use it again. I told myself my anxiety/phobia over these will NOT allow me to buy a new coffee pot. See? I'm not that crazy!

Anyway...as mentioned I plan to write an entry about our Austin trip but wanted to put this quick story in first! So gross, I know. :(

Crazy Times with 7th Graders

Here's a few funny stories for your entertainment, straight from my 7th grade classroom.

Walking my kids back from the lunchroom, a boy asked to use the bathroom. I pretended to not hear him (remember when you were in school & you thought your teachers were so dumb & deaf b/c they weren't aware of everything going on around them? Now I know...they did!). I got the kids on task & they were actually quiet & doing their work. No one was off task (incredible, especially the week before we get out for Christmas break for 2 weeks!). This boy walks up to my desk & right as I look at him, he opens his mouth to talk. Only then, a fart came out! It was especially loud, since my classroom was quiet! He quickly said 'can I go to the bathroom?' & I said "yes, go! Don't worry about getting a pass!' lol I knew I could NOT look up & get eye contact with any kid b/c I would start lol, like they were. I had to turn around & walk to my file cabinet & pretend to look for a paper, while saying "be quiet!" Then a girl said "I thought it was you, MIss!" & that almost embarrassed me but I just smiled at her & rolled my eyes. As if I ever did things like that!!! So I got the kids quiet again & on task....the boy comes back from the bathroom & more giggles erupt. I was under control myself so I just gave an angry look & told them to get back to work. If only it was a 'bad boy', b/c I probably would have laughed at him, but this boy is so nice & sweet, I couldn't do it. Really, it was a miracle that happened, that I somehow had self control. Whew!

Then, in one of my worst classes, I have a boy who always wants to sit at the table right by my door, never with the class. I was passing out papers & explaining what to do. I put his papers on his assigned seat, on the opposite side of the room. I said "blah blah (I'm not using his name to protect his privacy, of course!), I have your papers here on your desk, your assigned seat". & he shook his head to me, like ok. I kept talking to the class & finally looked at him (he hadn't moved at all) & I said "blah blah, are you refusing to do today's assignment & sit in your assigned seat"? He grabbed his stuff & proceeded to stand up, while saying "God you are SO annoying!" LOL! I actually laughed at that - saying "did you just call me annoying?!" & he said 'yes' (thank you for being honest, blah blah, by the way!). I said 'ok, get your stuff & go to the office then'. After he left I told the class I didn't realize I was the one being annoying, since I was just having him do what everyone else in the class had already done. Amazing. In my 11 years of teaching, I've never been told I was annoying (not to my face anyway!).

Miss...you miss teaching in Southside, don't you???? :)))

Enough Wilderness Already!!

Can you believe that 17th of this month will mark the 1 year anniversary of my moving into my first home?! Wow. Time flies! I must admit the first year wasn't too shabby! (I need to send a shout-out to my Dad who helped me by installing a new garage door motor...a new garbage disposal...tons of other stuff as well...then there's my brother & dad, who just put insulation in the attic over Thanksgiving weekend). They've both been lifesavers!

So, after being in my house a few months, & even more so with summertime, I found out there's a plethora of lizards running around the neighborhood! They're in my flower beds in the front of the house. When talking to a neighbor one day, she asked if I had them, because they were all over their yard. I figure it's always good to have lizards, as long as they don't jump on me or make me touch them or come in my house..I'm cool with that! I remember when I lived with Melissa for 5.5 years in our apartment in "Use-less", we had those tiny gecko lizards & sometimes they'd come in. I'd just look at them & say 'whateva!' (Can you believe that?). These I have now are bigger!

So, let's get started on this wilderness story...last Saturday I pulled a chair away from the wall in my front living room (a room I do not use - but only walk through, the few times I use my front door). After pulling the chair away, I pulled a fake plant (that's taller than I am) away from the wall & a lizard slid out with it! Yikes! How come Mr. L isn't here when these things happen?! I stare at it a second & it doesn't move. I tap my foot close to it & it still doesn't move. Whew - it's dead! I think about getting a wad of paper towels to throw it away & say 'nah - I'll do it later'. Well, I fix the plant & am moving it back to the wall & the bucking lizard crawls! CRAP! Well, apparently it's dying. So it's currently between a planter & the wall in that room, & it's been in the same position ever since. The next time Mr. L comes over I will tell him to set it free in my flower bed. I don't want to kill them! (Although this one must be in bad shape!). Can you imagine the heart attack I would have had if I was picking up what I thought was a dead lizard & it moved? Or what if it crawled on my arm out of the paper towels? Wow. I might not have a heart attack but I'd probably faint. Yes I'm that kooky & I do get myself worked up like crazy, especially with bugs. (Thanks mom for teaching me to behave this way). ;)

Later on, Saturday afternoon, I have my back door opened so that a nice fresh breeze can come through the screen door. I'm on the couch relaxing with Chloe (after raking up leaves from my front flower beds - it took 4 1/2 outdoor trash bags to get it all!) & I hear birds outside. Not a big deal but Chloe's ears perked up so I pick her up & just stand at the back door so we can look out. "Lord & behold" (thanks Yong for teaching me that phrase)...a freakin' vulture or hawk or something flew from the neighbor's tree to a tree in the backyard of the house behind me! Wow the wingspan of those birds are amazing! I think Chloe & I both had this face :o. lol

Last night around 9:00, after good times all day with Yong...I'm in my bathroom, putting on moisturizer, singing a little song you may have heard called "Womanizer" & I hear a noise outside my bedroom window! Yikes! It is like something banged on the metal of the A/C unit which is right by my window! So of course I stop singing & think "if someone comes a'crashin' through that window, I'm going to be stuck in this bathroom!" I hear the noise again! WTF!? I move to the far wall in my bedroom so I can quickly run down the hallway if need be. I hear it again! I debate on calling 911. Instead I call Mr. L & tell him I hear a noise outside. Again, why does this all happen when I'm A-L-O-N-E?! He's all calm about it, like it's not a big deal b/c it's not happening to him, & tells me to turn on the patio light. So I go to my back door, peek out the blinds, turn on the porch light, & see a bird sitting on the A/C unit (this after hearing this banging sound on the A/C unit about 6 times). I'm much more relaxed...& go back to my bedroom window to get a better look. It's a little baby owl!!! Oh my gosh it was so precious! It heard me moving the blinds & it turned it's head all the way around to look at me. It was just so amazing. It turned away from me, just like it was chillin'. I wanted to get a picture of it but knew it'd probably fly away if I left the window, & I wanted to just keep looking at it. It was probably 9" tall. Did I mention how cute it was!??? Eventually it hopped off the A/C unit, to the ground. I ran to the back door again to get a better look but it was gone in the darkness after that. :(



(No, this pic isn't me holding the owl. It's just a pic I found online, maybe a bit smaller than the one I saw in real life).

In conclusion, as cute as that baby owl was...really now...I've HAD IT with wilderness! I had no clue "Bedford" meant getting in touch with my outdoorsiness side! Bluck!!!! Sometimes I really miss Plano.

Update on Endangering Lives Post

My Miss wanted an update from our staff meeting we had regarding the lock down drill. Still at the point of the meeting I was feeling so guilty about it & really beating myself up for being so innocent! At the meeting our officer talked to us awhile & then our principal opened it up for discussion. I think I started scooting down in my seat. I could feel & hear my heart beating! Anyway-no one called me out for what I did (lol). Another teacher volunteered what she did (she's so brave). She said someone knocked at her door & it was a very polite knock ("YES!" I was thinking, "it was polite! I was tricked!") & she ignored it ("great - she was smart about it," I thought). Well, she said they knocked again & she peeled back the paper from her window on her door & saw it was a police officer. So she cracked open the door & the P.O. told her to NEVER open the door, no matter who it is, no matter if you know who it is or not. YES!!! So that made me feel better. Anyway-I'm almost positive the next time we have a drill (because of course I pray it never REALLY happens) I will know exactly what to do.

The end.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

I don't know if any of you have heard of this book or movie, but let me tell you: it's fabulous! I got the book last school year from our school book fair. I read it & couldn't stop thinking about it. . .even weeks later! It is told from the main character's point of view. Bruno is an 8 year old boy whose dad is one of Hitler's main soldiers. Bruno is totally innocent to WWII & concentration camps, etc. His family moves into a new house, next to a concentration camp. He hears the word 'camp' & like most kids, thinks of fun & games. He meets another 8 year old boy, who is a prisoner at the camp, & they talk & become friends through the electrical fence (secretly of course). It is such a fabulous book! I book-talked it to my students last year, telling them how much I loved it. One of my honors kids read it but didn't really get it, because he doesn't know much about WWII & what that's all about. Too bad.



Imagine my joy at finding out there has been a movie made from this book! I saw the advertisement on TV 2 Fridays ago & the next day, Mr. L & I were at the Angelika Theater watching it. Mr. L knew nothing about it. He was just going to be going with me. (Although he did say he's never seen me so gung-ho about a movie, actually looking up movie times, etc. Ok, so I just like watching TV mostly, I guess!). Anyway-Mr. L really liked the movie, as did I (imagine that). I was so happy to see that the movie is 98% like the book. I hate it when a movie is made & everything changes (I didn't even bother watching Bridge to Terebethia for this reason!)

So, if you are able to see the movie, I highly recommend it! It's so great!

Halloween Vegas Vacation

My boy, Mr. L, surprised me with a trip to Vegas (my most favorite place in the world!) for Halloween weekend, as a Christmas/birthday gift. I already wrote about the night I was surprised with the trip. I'll just start this blog entry out from the 30th, the day we left.
Thursday
Everyone knows I'm a scaredy-cat. & I'm especially scared of: needles, bugs, public speaking (I know I speak in front of KIDS every day, but adults are different!), & last but not least, flying. So the day before & the morning of my flight I am always a nervous wreck. As I was saying bye to my baby girl Chloe, I kissed her on the head & pet her cutie booty & I got teary leaving her! It was going to be 4 days without her! That, mixed with the fact that I had to get on an airplane for a whopping 2 hours & 30 minutes made me get teary I suppose. Once the cab arrived at my house to pick up Mr. L & me, I was all better. Still nervous but not crying. Then in the cab to the airport, I got teary again! I didn't want Mr. L to see me, & this time the tears actually ran down my cheeks! Yikes! I know he knows I'm a baby but I didn't want him to see this! I finally got myself under control. Whew.

As we are going through the metal detector or whatever, the guy working there kind of got on to Mr. L for walking away as I was using his shoulder to balance myself as I was taking my shoes off. He told Mr. L that "it's on like Donkey Kong" if you don't keep the ladies happy or something like that. It was pretty funny.

We get checked in for our flight, with only a few problems. Not only did Mr. L had to be taken to the side for his bag to be checked, so did I, & AFTER they took the bottle of water out of my purse! Crap. I gave my planned speech of "but I thought I could take the water if it was unopened!" Too bad that isn't true. It was confiscated, as I thought may happen. I was hoping that what I thought was true so I wouldn't have to spend the big bucks buying another one in the airport, but oh well. Then after they take the water, I have to take my carry on off to the side for something suspicious. OH NO! The dreaded toothpaste! It was confiscated as well. CRAP! I look over at Mr. L, feeling so guilty like I did all this on purpose with a plan (whatever, I'm not even thinking straight-I'm about to get on an AIRPLANE!) & see the airport guy taking Mr. L's pocketknife & confiscating that. Way to go!!!

As we are sitting & waiting for the dreaded time to board, I have to use the restroom about 3 times total. Once, as I walked back from going #1, I sat down for about 2 minutes, heard they started to call people to board, & felt the need to go to the RR AGAIN - this time #2! Crap. Literally. Yep, flying scares the crap out of me. (Is this too much information?!). On the flight, taking off, I actually had to feel my pulse. I was thinking "I'm not even nervous!" Of course my pulse was going really fast, but my brain was actually calm. It was really a miracle! I was so impressed. Even upon landing, we were about 20 minutes early & had to sit on the plane about 15 mins. or so & even that didn't freak me out (usually I just need OFF the plane-ASAP-maybe I'm claustrophobic?). I called myself a jetsetter. :)

Once in Vegas we walked around & stayed close by. We were staying in New York New York. That night we got ready & walked across the street to MGM. We had reservations to see KA. We wanted something quick for dinner so we ate at the food court in MGM before the show. I thought I'd even eat something cheap (haha) & got a chili dog, french fries, & a tea. It was bucking $12! Then we were off to see KA. It was GREAT! We both really liked it. Any Cirque show is awesome of course, but I liked KA better than Mystere. The other one I've seen is LOVE & that was amazing. That was probably my favorite & I saw it, not even being a Beatle fan! Anyway-after the show we walked to Luxor & went to the club LAX. So cool that walking through the "casina" part a lady that worked there gave us free entrance passes. Yea! Once inside it was pretty cool. Too bad my one glass of wine was $14! Oh my gosh! There was some guy wearing a gold necklace that we decided was Italian because of that, who was dancing away. He really kept us entertained!

We decided to leave around 12:30. One reason was that at this point, with the time change, we had been awake about 20 hours straight. Probably the main reason was that a live band started playing! Mr. L & I said we were both way too snobby for that! (I, more so than he, but we were pretty even on that, especially when they started playing Dave Matthews music! WTF! My friends who go out with me know that I am picky about the music that is played at bars/clubs. I LOVE house/dance music. I hate hearing music that I can hear on the radio, at these places).

While walking back to NYNY I saw a sign that there was an exhibition of the Titanic at Excalibur. In my tipsy stage I pointed out to Mr. L that we should go see that because it would be "sooo totally awesome!" Well, it is one of my favorite movies so therefore I thought I would like to see it! We never had time to go back & see it, but I really wouldn't have minded seeing it!

Only a few people were dressed in costumes on this night before Halloween. In my tipsy state I felt honored to high-five Jesus on the walk back to the room. :) (I've always thought it inappropriate to dress as Jesus, however).

Friday
The next morning Mr. L & I were watching CNN. Our ears perk up when we hear something about Dallas. Wouldn't you know it...we leave the state & there is an earthquake!!! Can you believe it? I immediately call Meliss & speak to Alvaro & they had no clue about it. Mr. L was so mad & even stated that this is the "worst vacation ever" because he's always wanted to experience an earthquake! Yes, he is weird. He was so mad it was pretty amusing!

I walked downstairs for breakfast. I was going to get us some Krispy Kreme donuts - again, something quick, easy, & cheap, right? Wrong. I got 6 donuts, a water, coffee, & milk & spent $19! Holy crap! Only in Vegas can you hear what I heard the guy behind me in line ordering: "Can I get a dozen donuts, a chocolate milk, & 2 Bud Lite's?" I almost lol. SO GROSS-beer & donuts?! Only in Vegas...

On Halloween night we had bought tickets to get into the Playboy Club, Moon, Rain, & Ghostbar. We get to the Palms about 7:15. We wanted to get there early so we wouldn't have to wait in a crazy long line. Again, we eat in the food court there. We are some of the very few people who are dressed up, so some of the people eating are looking at us, but I'm feeling pretty cute in my sailor outfit, so it's ok. At one point while eating I suddenly smell B.O.! So gross! I had to eat with my hand on my face so I'd smell my hand instead of B.O.! I thought it was the guy sitting at the table behind us. When we finished & were putting our trays up, we walked past the pizza place & it seemed as if the B.O. smell came from there. Weird. & fabulous, since that is what I had for dinner! :( So we go by the Playboy Club entrance & see it's not even open. They told us to come back in 45 minutes. Not one person was in line. We saw a bar where we could sit & have a drink & wait & watch if a line forms. Perfect! On the way I saw the Sunset Tan store. I was excited until I saw the girl working there. She looked so bored. It wasn't the salon, just a place where you could buy the lotions & t-shirts & stuff. They also had a TV playing the actual show. I figure only my sis & I watch this show so we'd be the only ones excited about that. So - while sitting at the bar more & more people show up dressed in costume. We saw some great costumes! A group of girls dressed as Brownies, a bunch of guys dressed as the green army men (I remember my brother used to have these when he was little), Ace Ventura, George Washington.....

So we decide to get in line for the Playboy Club, our first stop. On the way we walk past George Maloof. He looked like he was going to say something to Mr. L but we kept walking. Too bad. I guess that was my only celeb sighting. Well, besides those in my pics, haha.

Once in the Playboy Club we got a chair at the bar, it was not very crowded, but did fill up within 20 minutes or so. It was a cool place. On the wall behind the DJ were digital frames showing different pics of Hugh Hefner & the Girls Next Door & other Playmates. I decided I wanted to get my pics made with some of the "celebs" I saw walking around the club. Too bad I chickened out when I saw 2 KISS guys. Then I never saw them again. I was so mad! I suddenly was so shy & I know I had liquid courage. Oh well. Below are some pics of me with the celebs:






And of course I can't post this without a pic of my captain & me!


Saturday
Our last day in Vegas we walked from NYNY alllll the way to the Wynn. We stopped at the Paris along the way to eat breakfast. Whew - there was almost a fight between Mr. L & me. I guess he forgot how cranky I get when I'm starving & just need to eat instead of walking around, etc. Anyway-once I got food in my tummy it was time to have fun again. We stopped at the Venetian because he'd never been inside there before. Then to the Wynn where we found a great outdoor bar. We had to stop there for a bloody mary. The patio was very small & had a pond with a huge waterfall. There were tall trees to hide the bar from everything "Vegas" around you. It was very relaxing & cool!

Then some shopping & time to get a cab back to NYNY so that we could get ready for my birthday dinner! We had reservations at Mix. It's on the 60-something floor of THEHotel, next to Mandalay Bay. I recommend this restaurant. The service & food were great! Mr. L decided on the steak & potatoes & I got the salmon w/ veggies. We each tried each other's food & I was so glad I got what I did, because mine was so much better! We shared a side of mac & cheese w/ ham slices (mas o menos). Just when I said I couldn't eat any more & no, I did not want dessert, I was talked into it. Mr. L got some frilly crap (mousse? I can't remember) & got the "Mix candy bar". Oh my gosh it was soooo good! I heard the server say something about 'a mix between a Snickers bar, cookie dough, chocolate....' & I probably interrupted her to say "I'll take it!!" It was so great & once again, what I ordered was so much better! :)

Then it was time to go back to NYNY. We needed to pack a little bit since we had to get a cab to the airport at 6:00 a.m. the next morning! Well, we did pack a bit & I said we SHOULD at least go downstairs to ROK, the club inside NYNY. So we walk past it, checking out the people in line & then we hear a dreaded song: something by Kid Rock. Well, I'm very snobby about music being played in a bar & I was thinking 'weird song to play, but ok'. Mr. L must have been snobbier this time b/c he decided he had no desire to go into a place like that. lol. Fine by me - I had to get on a plane the next morning so I needed to get my sleep & rest anyway!

The next morning we actually get through security with no problems at the Vegas airport. On the plane I find out I get a window seat or the seat in the middle. GREAT! :( Suffocation & claustrophobia please don't set in!!! I chose the middle seat. Of course some big guy sat on the other side of me. Mr. L did a terrible job of distracting me at take off - instead he chose to look out the window. So I put on my ipod & listened to Bon Jovi. I blared it. PLEASE JON, DISTRACT ME FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING! I'M IN A BUCKING AIRPLANE TAKING OFF RIGHT NOW! So I catnapped on the flight, for I was very tired. I woke up at one point feeling the guys on either side of me touching my arms. PLEASE PEOPLE GIVE ME ROOM I'M ON AN AIRPLANE! I tried to not freak out. I didn't think the flight would ever end. Finally it's time to land! Apparently this flight had some connecting flights so the flight attendant was giving out the different gates for the different flights. Can you believe that when she mentioned some place in Germany, I actually started crying?! Yes, tears poured out of my eyes! I just imagined myself getting right on another airplane & having to stay on it for that many more hours (I don't know how many more but I know it'd be a lot!). I hear Mr. L telling me it's ok, we are on the ground (YES but still taxiing to the gate & I'm STILL ON AN AIRPLANE!). I finally got control of myself (ok, somewhat) as I'm using my hoodie to wipe my tears away.

So my dear sweet 'ol sister is picking us up from the airport. She had a bit of trouble finding the airport & then getting to the gate on time just a few weeks before, when picking up her husband. So this time she planned better & got there on time. When I called her as we were walking through the tunnel (YES!) & she was so adorable, telling me "I'm here!!! I'm at A-22!!" Oooh Kimmie. I said to her "But we're at gate D12!" She was so proud of herself, being there on time & all. Oh well, by the time I used the rr & we got our luggage, she was at the curb waiting on us!

So-I'm still enjoying being back at home. I'm just not much of a traveller. I'm fine being at home! However I'm still saving for my next Wilson Sibling Vegas Vacation...this summer!