Wednesday, March 31, 2010

{One year ago today}

Missing Janin is like a living without........
 your favorite dessert
your favorite place to vacation
your favorite sunrise
your favorite color in the rainbow
your favorite smell
your favorite joke
your favorite........many things.

In her absence, my eyes see the world in a new favorite way.
Time is of the essence....
love, laugh, look for the beauty, make your mark, and experience the NOW.

Our Janin....



My thoughts are with Janin's family, my grandma, and Janin's sisters today.


Tuesday, March 30, 2010




{Things that ROCK my world}



Kohl's "Flirt!" line of perfumes ROCK MY WORLD!
I know the Ed Hardy craze is sooooo two years ago, and sooooo John Gosselin ruined (yuck! another lahooozer man!), but I love the Ed Hardy perfume for women.
I am wayyyyy to frugal to spend $80 on smell goods.
This Rock-N-Rebel is a good knock off and on sale right now for $31.50 (not including your 30% off coupon)
The box says, "Turn up the volume with luscious blackberry, apple nectar and pink grapefruit.  Totally Rockin'!"
It is long lasting and puts a little skip in my walk.
It's a nice, affordable treat for this Spring.
I think Randy is trying to tell me that he likes it too.....his nose is buried around my neck!
For real!  It's sexy sweet rockin' good stuff!

Monday, March 29, 2010

{Mrs. Robb....unlisted}


Jax had an extra credit assignment that involved him looking up five people he knows in the phone book.
One of the people he was excited to find was his teacher.
Jax yells from the kitchen,
"Hey mom!  What is Mrs. Robb's last name?"
I say, "Robb" in one of those 'HEEELLLOOOOO duh'  kinds of tones.
He says, "Wow....her name is Rob Robb?!?!?  I never knew.  I don't see her in the book."

Oh people......Pray for us would ya!

{Checking up on the other Randy}


Sunday afternoon, Randy, the boys, Aunt T. and myself, headed West.....around the mountain.....where the lake is in view and the sunsets are breathtaking.
Lake Point.
Uncle Randy and Aunt Janin's home.


Uncle Randy is recovering from a double knee replacement that was just done on Monday.
He uses crutches to move from his bedroom to the living room chair.
His knees are very swollen and uncomfortable to say it nicely.
Emily and Claar have made is bedroom equipped with all that he needs.
Motorized cold pack wraps, heating pad, the grabber, the clapper, VCR, DVD, blankets, meds, and the invisible-dog leash (for exercising his leg).
He is doing well, and has the best care that free can buy :)
His "rip away" track pants that Auntie E sent, are the bomb!!!!
He is able to cover the areas that he doesn't want to make public.....and unsnap the other areas to show off the battle wounds.....which are pretty narley!!!!
The dude is stubborn and strong!
He will be waterskiing before summer's end.
You all know that!


Randy worked his "kid" magic.
Another one on the "I hate Randy list!"


Luckily, Titan doesn't hate me :)
He let me rock him in my arms while he drank his bottle.
Em and I were able to have some one on one talk.
A highlight of my day.

Claar visited the cemetery with Aunt T. and I.
We took sweet smelling lillies and mums.
Cleaned the dried leaves and older flowers from the vases.
Tracy and Claar blew Easter bubbles into the air.
Catching up in each other's lives.
Laughter, sorrow and memories were shared between us.

Janin has her ways of keeping us all connected....
under her roof,
under the rays of warm sun,
under her guidance to do what is right with little words of love in our ears.

Thanks Jackman family for letting us be a part of your life :)
Love you lottttsssssssss!


{No matter where they come from}


Jax went to this movie months ago when it opened in the theaters.
He called me on his way home......bawling.
He just kept saying,
"I love you mommy.  Thanks for being such a good mom.  Thanks for adopting me."
He had been impatiently waiting for the movie to be released on video so that he could buy it with his birthday money.
It was very important for him to have us, as a family, watch it.   Saturday night was "The Blind Side Family Movie Night."
I think this could possibly be my most favorite movie ever!
From the start, I was in tears.
Tears from the beautiful love story between a sweet, strong boy and a family who embraced him into their lives.
But also tears because of the reasons why this movie meant so much to my son.....It tells me of his genuine heart to have compassion and understanding, to walk his big feet in someone else's shoes.
I loved this story, I love this family,  and I love Sandra Bullock even more than I did before watching this movie (you know she's my wish upon a movie star BFF!).....she steals your heart in this role.  After seeing this movie, I admire and thank her for the line in her Oscar acceptance speech,

 "I would like to thank what this film is about for me, which are the moms that take care of the babies and the children, no matter where they come from. Those moms and parents never get thanked." 

Of course, this struck a cord with me.
Of course, It made me feel recognized.
Of course, It made me proud.
Of course, It made me appreciate my role in my boys' lives.
I'm a lucky person, blind sided by the love of my babies.....
no matter where they come from.

 

Friday, March 26, 2010

{Not my style}



I am ashamed and embarrassed by my previous post.
Boy!!!  All that rantin' and ravin' of cruelty toward another person!
I am sorry.
Really, I am not myself these days.
I am noticing that EVERYONE makes me irritated and annoyed.
Down to simple things like shopping carts.
Including my kids!
The things that usually melt my heart, are making me want to scream.
I don't like being this person.
It's not my style, or my heart.



I am contributing the change in behavior to less exercise, more caffeine, and nightmares.
I think my new $180 bedspread that I paid $18 for, is giving me nightmares.
I can't explain it, but ever since I've put the damn thing on my bed,
freaky teaky, crazy, realistic, sweat dripping, panic attack dreams are reoccurring.
Not a good nights sleep in days!!!

Changing it up in here I'm telling ya!
Working on a healthier mind, body and soul........
Goal:  A new woman by summertime.

Again......sorry friends for the IBS
(Irritable Bitch Syndrome)



Thursday, March 25, 2010

{Driving frustration at it's finest!!!}

Woke up.....
Felt rested.
Got all gussied up and ready for a day out.
A day that would start with getting my taxes done, and if all goes well, a tall yummy coffee and a walk around the mall.
A ME day.
God....doesn't that sound delightful!

Tax appointment went great!
It was my route to the nearest Starbucks that went bad fast.
I got behind a thing.....I'm calling her it a thing because it is so stupid and ill equipped to drive a motor vehicle, that I wouldn't even disgrace the rest of us humans by linking it to our DNA.
You know these things that stop, go, stop, go.....and do 18 mph on 1300 East when only one lane is open! 
THE DUMBTHING ROADBLOCKER!!!
It has it's face and hands knuckled around the steering wheel and is so worried about themselves that it doesn't give any consideration to the other drivers!!!!
We, the trail of 15 cars behind, are finally able to turn a corner and I find my slot to get around it.....I lay the peddle to the metal all right.  Just as I am glaring and ready to yell swear words at it, I see the reds and blues flashing behind me.



Ah  ^^*$(&$(*&(*#*!  I shook my head, took a breath and pulled into a shopping center.
I'm pissed.
The cop can see that.
Didn't help that he called me "MAM!"
He says, "Sorry mam, but I clocked you going 13 over the speed limit"
I go, "Yah, that stupid girl in front of me was pissing me off.  She has been holding up traffic for three blocks!  I just wanted to get around her."
I handed over my license and registration without looking him in the eye.
(thank God I went to get my license renewed!)
He went to his car...did his little whatever they do, and returned with a ticket for me to sign.
"I'm only sighting you for 5 over the limit."
"Thank you sir", I say and flipped a bitch out of the parking lot.
GRRRRRRRRRR!

Am I a road rager??????
Apparently the answer is YES!!!!
But seriously!!!!!!  Some people shouldn't be driving!!!
Stupid drivers kill or can be killed by a blonde broad shoving her 5 mph over speeding ticket up in a crevice that will never see happiness again!


I need to re-read my "Don't sweat the small stuff" book.

I never did get my coffee or mall time.
boo hoo.

(P.S.  I would never be this critical of an older person....I promise!  This was a ditzy girl in her 20's....she knows better)



Wednesday, March 24, 2010

{The sweet and sour of
Sugar Ray}


Last weekend Randy and I joined Paula and Jay D. in Bendover for the $10 Sugar Ray concert.


Mark McGrath is still hot, funny, and a great dancer at 42. (His looks and quirky humor remind me of my brother)
The band really doesn't have many #1 hits, so there were cover songs and group singing for fill-ins.
At one point, Mark brought a "special needs" guy named Jay-Jay (I'm sorry now that I kept calling him Va-jayjay....it was the beer), and a heavy set man named....hmmm, I forgot.  Let's call him Va-naynay.
Mark gave JayJay and NayNay a microphone and let them take "the opportunity of their lifetime".  A spotlight and the stage was their own..... to dance and sing and entertain for a good 5-10 minutes.
Paula and I were like, "awe :)",
(under the wrong impression that Mark is just a down home good guy...reasons why uno momento.)
The concert was fun and we all left with a smile on our faces.

Part #2 of the evening
{Stay at home moms making the Po-Po nervous}

Of course Paula and I have the hair-brained idea to stand near the gate of supposed exit for the band.
Remember our Aaron Lewis story?
Missing him at the gate by 6 freakin' minutes???!!?
Yah!  That was NOT gonna happen to us again dammit!
So we make the guys pull the car around so that we can have comforts of seats and heats.
We are waiting, and waiting, and waiting.
In the mean time, the security is on to us.
They are driving around trying to distract us with decoys.
Oh security......honey, you've gotta do better than that!  You're dealing with pro's here!!!
We get sight of  the van that carried the band.
It has turned around to leave at the opposite entrance.
Paula and I jump out of the car, and run in 3" wedges with arms flailing, and yelling "MAAARRRRRK!"
I know they saw us.....
The asses didn't stop.
I'm sure we gave them all a good chuckle.
We got back in the car with they guys, instructed Randy to, "FOLLOW THAT VAN!!!!"
With the van and a security truck in front of us, and a security truck behind us, we were led up a dirt drive to the back of the casino......
The drop-off doors!!!!!
Randy is saying, "We've got security trailing us.  I'm gonna drop you girls off at the door, and me and Jay D. will drive around and get them off your trail!  Hurry!!!  Jump out!"

Paula and I jump out of the barely stopped car, and fast walk through the "drop-off doors".
Security has let one of their own off too......he is right on our heels.
I just wish I would have turned around and with a crazy look in my eyes said, "are you following me?????!!??"
Cuz ya know, you just can't scare crazy!!!!!
(quote by Aunt T.)
After standing on a second level balcony for a few minutes, just the three of us.....Paula, me and Barney Fife, we were under the impression that maybe we were not sneaky enough to pull this one off.
All of a sudden, I hear Paula go "uh ah uh... It's Mark!"
I turn to see the entire band and their entourage walking feet away from us toward the elevator.
Paula yells, "Hey Mark" in a cool sexy tone.
The ASShole wouldn't even look up from his sexting conversation to give eye contact.  He says, "hey" back.
It was as if her and I were stalking serial killers and he would melt into an acid puddle if his eyes met ours.
While all of this is happening in short seconds, I am trying to get my camera phone to take a pic of him up-close.....
I got a fabulous shot of his shoe and the carpet.
As the doors to the elevator were closing, I peeped my head close and said, "Great concert guys.  Thanks!"
I got a head nod for recognition.

K.......think about this.
Two blondes......alone.
And, in my opinion, we aren't classified as fugly or a butter face.
What would it have taken Mark to stop, give an appropriate acknowledgement, and move on?????

We were so disappointed in him and his band.
It made all of his JayJay, NayNay efforts void and disgusting.
A lie for entertainment only.

I am loosing my attraction to rock stars.
I'm not naive enough to think they have large I.Q's and treat women with the utmost respect,
BUT COME ON!!!!!
What happened to feeding your fans???

Sugar Ray.......
You are like NutraSweet.....
Fake and leaves you with a bitter after taste!




Tuesday, March 23, 2010


{You may be surprised}


You may be surprised to know that I am a Dr. Laura listener and follower.
I have been known to think of her as my "Mother Laura".

Yes, I am liberal in my acceptance of sexuality, women's choice and political ways of thinking.........
but when it comes to MY husband, MY mothering and MY children, I am old fashioned conservative in a lot of ways.

Mother Laura is the reason I am a stay at home mom.
I left a very lucrative, enjoyable career to raise my babies.......
because of Dr. L's words that struck my heart like lightning,  just months before River's birth.
(I am not judgemental on mothers who work. It's not for everyone.  In fact, I was surprised by myself making the choice!!! Different strokes for different folks I say)

Mother Laura is the reason my marriage is as healthy and long lasting as it is.  She has taught me the "Proper care and feeding of a husband and marriage."

Mother Laura is the reason I choose not to be surrounded by, or abused by hurtful people....
Mother Laura is the voice of backbone, support and education for my well being.

I don't always agree with her logic or beliefs.  A lot of the time, I scream at the radio, flip it off (with my birdie finger of course...not the dial), and turn it to some head banging butt rock, to get something different floating through my mind. There are moments that she can be WAYYY too critical and her callers can be WAYYY too stupid!
But at other times, I pick and choose the words and lessons that I can relate to, and to become a better person by.
Isn't that what life is about? 
Learning to be the best person you can be to yourself and others?

I'm going to start giving you quotes by Dr. Laura that have influenced me at different times in my life.
We will call them,
"Dr. Laura-ing yer ass"

"The people and circumstances around me do not MAKE me what I am, they REVEAL who I am."

We are all given opportunities, whether difficult or easy, to show if we will stand or buckle in conviction.
Opportunities for REVEALING our true selves.
Strong or weak?
Which one are you?

More to come.........
Hopefully it doesn't' make you want to start swearing and flipping off the computer.




{Things that ROCK my world}


Kohl's ROCKS my world!!!
Walking in to their annual 70-90% off sale with an extra 30% off coupon in hand, saved me a freakin' butt-load!!!
Or a "record amount" as the cashier put it.

TOTAL SAVED:  $856.10

Chap's bedding reg price $189.99
sale price $18.99

Sheet set reg price $99.99
sale price $9.99

Just the coupon alone saved me $36.78.
Find a coupon* and save yourself a butt-load by shopping for this year's Christmas and birthdays!!!
*The coupons actually don't start in effect until tomorrow (Wednesday).  The cashier was cool enough to honor it for me anyway :)  Another reason why
Kohl's ROCKS my world!

Monday, March 22, 2010


{That's my River}


As I walked by Riv's room tonight at 10:45 pm, the time that he should be fast asleep, but because he is my night owl, he was reading and listening to the children's CD that he has listened to since infancy.
I stop and say, "Bubba, it's past your bedtime honey.  Lights out."
He says, " But mom....come here.  I've been practicing a song to sing to you."

Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the peppermint trees
'Round the soda water fountains
Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

He continued with the song without a word misplaced.
I swayed my hips side to side and looked at him with a feeling as if he is still my little boy with happiness and innocence.
He is the strongest soul I know.

After the serenade, we hugged and giggled.
He looked me in the eyes and said,
"Mom, you are the most beautiful person I know.  When I think of you my heart is at peace.
AND, you may have wrinkles all around your eyes, and some over here, but there isn't a one on your forehead :)"

That's my River



Sunday, March 21, 2010

{Is it just me???}

I like to read magazines starting from the back to the front.
I would do the same with novels if it wouldn't be so difficult to follow the story.
Instead, I constantly make it a mission to figure out the plot, mystery, and ending to keep myself from being totally blown out of the water with a left field whammy.
Suspense is NOT something I can deal with.
I can have an anxiety attack at the drop of a word.
Don't even get me started on movies!!!!

Is it just me???

Saturday, March 20, 2010

{Fame, Fortune, Faithful}




Sandra Bullock is one of me and Chelise's Wish upon a Movie Star BFF's.
Her husband, Jesse James, WAS one of my Wish upon a Movie Star bad boy crushes.

I love you Sandra.
Shame on you Jesse!!!!!!
You're a dumb ass!!!!!

The morning radio trio that I listen to, were talking about the reasons men like Jesse and Tiger would cheat when they have beautiful, successful wives at home.  One of the D.J's threw out a Chris Rock quote:

"A man is only as faithful as his options."

The D.J. admitted that his wife has nothing to be worried about because he hasn't been "hit on" in ten years......but if there were women showing interest, she would have something to be worrying about.

Just let that statement sink in.

Kind of makes you go...
hmmmmmmmmmmm


DISCLAIMER:
I am not a man hater, nor do I want to rally against them for any reason.  I'm just speaking what I believe is the human flaws we all can choose act on.


Randy and I have been talking about the truth of this statement.
He doesn't believe that every man would cheat if something sexy wonderful was placed in front of him......
BUT
He did admit, that if a woman isn't taking care of her man in the way he needs (sex, attention, respect), then of course they will stray if a bombshell is fluttering her goods in his eyeballs.  It's just the make-up of men.

I agree that at times, good men get mistreated and taken for granted.  They should not be with held sex.  It is hurtful, mean and manipulative.  But, I speculate, that all it takes is a man thinking he isn't getting what he needs to justify his unfaithful actions.  And let's not forget EGO.
Men's feelers are so fragile, (worse than women at times!) and all it takes is one hussy to make them feel important and "all that" to proceed to the next stage of infidelity.

Women are not immune to the same scenario's, but I think we are a more "one person for life" gender.

So......do you believe that a person is only as faithful as their options?

Friday, March 19, 2010



{Too good to be true?}



Only 55 calories.
Only 1.9 g of carbs!
And ZERO taste.

Yes, too good to be true.

Literally NO taste.
It's like seltzer water.
Don't waste your money.

Thursday, March 18, 2010


{My garden of angels}


I walked outside to see my Angel garden's first bloom of Spring  2010.
I felt it was an appropriate companion to Aunt E's heartfelt, and poignant "Janin" poem.

I pick up the phone, she isn't here.
It has almost been a year.
We love her,miss her
Our loss has made us shed so many tears.

Her leaving has changed all our lives
We struggle to find our way
Oh, what I wouldn't give for just one more day

To tell her how much she meant to us all
I think she does know,she has her ways
A beautiful sunset, the trees in the fall
A hummingbird kissing a flower on a warm spring day.

Janin was unique, a work of art.
The pain that is left, of being apart.
She left such a legacy
Janin was a wife,a mother,sister and friend
Our love for her will never end.
 
~Elise
{Love knows no boundaries}



A few months ago, we packed up Carol, my mother-in-law, and moved her from everything she knows.
Her house that she shared with Jack.
Her church that she attended and served for many years.
Her fulfilling job working with Alzheimer patients.
Her supportive friends and loving family.

In a Whoooosh......it was all left behind.........
In the hopes to find tranquillity, warmth and a new life in Arizona.
The first months were very depressing and lonely for her.
Phone calls asking us to bring her home to the familiar places and faces.
Randy struggled with the right thing to do by his mother.
We started questioning if we had pushed her into a life that would never be comfortable or adaptable for Carol.

That is until............
We got the call that a nice older "preacher man" had asked her to dinner.
Carol was nervous, elated, scared, confused and beaming by the offer.
Randy and I encouraged the date, and gave advise to enjoy the moment for what it is.
Three months and many candle lit dates later.......
It's official.
The nice older "preacher man", Ralph and my loving, beautiful mother-in-law are
TYING THE KNOT!!!!!!
I haven't seen Carol exude joy like this in a long time.
Jack will always be Carol's first love.
There is NO replacing Jack.
But how fortunate for her and Ralph both, to have the life and capacity to experience love and companionship a second time.
Our family is supportive and happy for the Arizona love birds :)

The wedding is set for May 28th at a Lutheran Church in Arizona.
They will honeymoon in Europe!!!!!
(They said we weren't invited on the honeymoon......
hey, give us credit for trying) 


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

{What?? Huh?? I can't hear you}


Aren't ears miraculously weird!?!
Yah, mine like to pretend like they rule my every day life by infecting themselves and filling with enough fluid to make my eyeballs float.

Yes....bofem!
Doublett ear infection.

I knew I was in trouble the Thursday I woke up to fly to Vegas.
My throat and ear holes were rebelling in pain during the flight.
"Buck up ya old broad" I told myself.

Almost two weeks later, my ears whispered to themselves,
"earself, I am going to continue to make your life excruciating and deaf if you don't get me my drugs! NOW!"
And I said back to them,
"Hey chill out!!! Don't make me Van Gogh yer ass!"

So yesterday, off to the doctor I finally went.
A horse pill twice a day should do the trick.

4+ ear infections a year is RE-DONK-U-LUS!!!
You would think a person would out-grow this stuff.....or at least move on to a more fun infection like cysts or acid reflux.
WAIT!!!!
I have those too!
Peeps!!!!  I'm falling apart.
Wahhhhhhh!


{ROCK NEWSFLASH!!!}


My menz of Leon are coming in concert at the USANA!!!!!!!!
Holy, holy shiznit!!!!!!!!!
Just got the news on my email alert!
July 19.
Tix on sale Saturday March 20.
Who's going with me?
OMG!!!  I'm so excited I can't breath!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!
{Gone fishin' with the old man}


Saturday morn at 6:00, Randy and Riv set out to Stockton for a "man" day.
A day for very "manly" things.
Moments that make you want to grunt, "I'm a man....hear me fart roar!"
Pounding chest while yelling, "I'm a man, doing very manly man stuff with my old man!"


Randy had signed he and Riv up for a fishing tournament. These guys pictured above were the manly men in charge of the small lake competition.






My manly menz won the tournament by reeling in 9 fish!
Being competitor 1 out of 1 competitor's make you feel very winner-man like.

A manly man day like this, would make any man-boy exude a large, corner of the mouth, Dorito cheezed smile :)

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

{Go ask Alice.......}


Friday afternoon, we met up with Aunt T. at Jordan Commons for the IMAX 3D showing of
Alice in Wonderland.
A-MAZ-ING!!!!!
We loved it.
It's not scary (could be for kids under 8 tho).
It IS very funny and witty.
Full of color and fun imaginative creatures.
Love the Queen of Hearts and her GI-normous head!
Adore the Mad Hatter (partially cuz he's my good buddy Johnny Depp!)
The White Queen played by Anne Hathaway was casted incorrectly. Hint: Should have casted someone that is a true blonde.  AND.......she had BAD brows!
Alice was a bad ass rebel with beauty and personality that rocked.
She had a continual wardrobe change of funky dresses designed by Sue Wong.
Other than Anne Hathaway and the 3D making me dizzy, I can't say anything bad about this movie. 
It has made me a Tim Burton fan.



Each one of us related to a character.


Riv is the Mad Hatter for sure!


Jax related to the elusive, sneaky and lovable Cheshire Cat.


Aunt T. and the Queen of Hearts.....It's gotta be the red hair.



And Alice was my alter ego.

Everyone has a little 'something not right' within us.

Monday, March 15, 2010


{The worst pick-up lines EVER}

The Scene:
Saturday night at A Bar Named Sue's.
Chelise and I sitting on a stool along the counter where patrons ordered drinks.
The club was wall to wall with a manajory of people (one reason why I like the place).
Because of the large crowd, Chelise and I had separate experiences happening simultaneously.
I turn to Chelise and with a "this sucks" tone I say,
"I just had the WORST pick-up line EVER! The dweebster punk next to me blurted out,
'You're 39?!?!?!?  WOW! Yer old!'
Chelise laughs, and says, "Oh yah???  Well I can top that one!  A guy walked up and asked if she knew if the bar tender was a lesbian.  Chelise responded with, "How would I know?"  He replied, "Because YOU are a lesbian, you would know."
With egos draggin across the beer spilled floor, all we could do is laugh at the harsh facts of the evening:
 I am crusty old and Chelise is a lezzie.
What happened to the good ol' bar days when people wore beer goggles?  My hell!


Saturday, March 13, 2010



{Shelby}

My little sweetheart is 6 today.
Happy Birthday Shelbs :)
Aunt Jolie loves you!!!!!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

{I still believe in Pluto as a planet}



Yesterday River and I chaperoned Jax's class field trip to Clark Planetarium at the Gateway.


Riding light rail downtown was part of the loud, excited, (kind of stinky) experience.



Jax is the oldest and tallest in his class, which makes him the "king shit" most of the time.
All of the children are so well behaved and know the importance of the buddy system.
It is the most adorable sight to watch these babes walk hand in hand down the streets.



Jax played meteorologist and informed us that a spectacular storm front was coming in and would be raining meatballs and cupcakes :)


We watched a very educational yet entertaining movie that was narrated by Tom crazy couch jumper Cruise.
We learned so much about the International Space Station, and all of the effort and workings behind it.
Beyond words........Amazing!!!!
GO SEE IT!!!!
The 3D effects were crazy fun with all kinds of galactic things flying toward my nose.
They could have left out the hairy legged astronaut wearing short shorts with a 3D view up into his jewels!!
You could hear the audience going, "ewe!!!!  groce!!!!!" as we were backing our heads away.
Not a good crotch shot for any age.

I love these moments with my boys and their peers.  I love these moments of being their mommy and having the opportunity to watch their brilliant minds absorb :)

And......who wouldn't love these moments of memorializing yourself in 3D goggles with a crusty red goyder on your chin?????

Tuesday, March 9, 2010


{I don't know how to tell you this.....}

This is how it all started.
Auntie E received this post card in the mail.
It says,
"FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTARY ULTRA-LUXURIOUS ROOM INCLUDING FOOD AND BEVERAGE IN SELECT RESTAURANTS AND TWO TICKETS TO THE CONCERT, PLEASE CONTACT...BLAH, BLAH, BLAH"
Elise contacted blah, blah, blah and the fairytale weekend was in place.

We stayed at the Aria.
It is very contemporary and high tech.
The moment you open your door, the shades are drawn and soft music starts playing.
There is an 8 x 6 control box next to the bed that gives you lounging access to the TV channels, music channels, room temp., room service requests, etc.
White fluffy robes and Egyptian cotton sheets made getting out of bed ridiculous!!!!!
There is no freakin reason for my no-ass to be leaving comforts like that!!!!
The bathroom had a large mirror with double sinks.
The divine shower and separate garden tub were in one large stone enclosure.
My only complaint......
one outlet!!!!
Too many girlies for just one outlet!!!!!


The view from our room was this way cool kayak blob of art.
I don't know what it signifies, but it gave me my kayaking bug!!!!



The outside of the hotel had trickling waterfalls along the entire walkway.
So amazing that it almost doesn't look like real water.


Okay....so let's see,
The Aria set us up in this fancy shmancy room...
THEN
informed us of our "RFL" package that included the entire mini bar in our room,
free room service, about 10 restaurants and bars were also  $FREE.99!!!!!
After each meal, we had to sign our check, and we never had any meal under $100.....except for the one time we ordered one pot of coffee and a small fruit plate that came to $40.

The food was exceptional!
The service was beyond pampering.
We gave great tips to the help......the hotel paid for those too!!!!
I am NOT exaggerating when I tell you, we were treated like royalty.  I was skeptical up until we checked out, that they possibly had the wrong people, and would tell us that we would have to pay thousands of dollars back!!!!!
Nope.....they had the correct gals, and even loaded our luggage full of the raided wet bar!


~Thursday~

 The first evening, we made our way to Freemont street.
It was good to kick it old school.
Met some fun people, listened to a couple bands, and was stopped by a psychic.
Yes, I really was stopped by a psychic.
She said that I had the most amazing aura.
Blue, purple and gold.
She had never seen such a beautiful aura and said that I was very special :)
Encouraged me to continue on with my good life, and keep the negative people who keep trying to creep in......OUT!!!!!!
Chelise and I were in shock...looking at each other like, "WTF just happened?!?!?!"
I've done a lot of thinking since.....her words made me a stronger person.
Sometimes just giving someone a boost, or a compliment is life changing.

~Friday~
ALL DAY LONG, we had happy bodies laying in our amazing beds.
ALL DAY LONG, we ordered room service,
watched "E TV", laughed,  and napped.
ALL DAY LONG, we shared stories that brought us to tears from pain AND laughter.
ALL DAY LONG we sucked each others breath, because we knew that this was a once in a lifetime weekend, and we cherished every little minute with each other that we could.

Friday evening, we went to Harrah's where my FAVORITE Vegas entertainment is located.
CARNIVAL COURT baby!!!!!!!
After spending h-o-u-r-s drinking free pours, watching the bottle flippers, and dancing my neuroma feet into a frenzy, we wobbled and slurred out to the cab.
(Notice the Bud Lights that were bigger than heads!!!)
((BTW.......I was informed that my driver's license has been expired since my birthday!!!!!
I swear!  I'm just not on top of things these days.  I had no freakin' idea!!!  Makes me feel like an mixed fruit cake.))





~Saturday~

We received our Bon Jovi tix at noon from our amazing hotel host.  Even he was in shock of how spoiled we were to get $225 tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


We were about 100 feet from the stage.
We walked right in to watch the opening act, Dashboard Confessionals begin.
They were okay...the 8 foot lead guitarist was quite the entertainer with more legs than a bucket of chicken!!! Tall men don't make good lookn' rock stars.
Sorry Randy......no rock star career in your future daddy long legs!

My short video clip of the concert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG1K8gnfCd0
(watch after you read my review at about 57 seconds, check out the toe point and bounce)

Well here is the 411  on what you have been waiting for.......
The Bon Jovi concert.
I don't know how to tell you this..........






WE HATED IT!!!
WE HATED IT!!!!




~They are too old.

~Their hair looks like straw helmets that can't lay flat because of what looks like a can of aqua net and a curl set from Hilda's House of Hair got a hold of them!!!

~Richie Sambora wears a long chain with a feather that hangs from his leather coat. 
Wanna be cool like a hip 20 something
.....NOT so much.

~Richie also looks like he is in some sexual pain as he is jammin' on his guitar. 
 NOT attractive, and makes me want to throw up a little in my mouth.

~Gerry curl hair blond piano man.
yuk. get a straightener.
enough said.

~Tico the drummer.....now he ROCKS! 
Kind of..................
damn, I don't know......

AND

~Jon.....the Bomb Jovi.
Wearing black Levi's,
(which i think is a fashion faux pas whether man or woman),
and black Reebok aerobic tennies...
ya know, the ones with a strap!!!!!
Not cool Jon!
Sooooooo NOT cool!
But it was his cheezy moves that made us get up and walk out at song seven.
The jumping toe point, going into a side squat, reaching with one open hand toward a light.
Deep stare with dramatic poise.
Shaking his hand to the drum beat like it is a pompom and he is performing in an episode of Glee.
Singing of Jesus.......and unity....... and sounding like every piece of it is scripted without any spontaneity.
All the while, Richie looks very pale and wrinkled.
Sweat dripping from his jagged face like a cheap outdoor waterfall.
I was worried a bit......
I didn't come to a free concert to see an old fart die on stage!!!!
After choking back our "you're freakin' kidding me's"
We got the hell outta there!!!!
It wasn't hard to find the exit....we just followed the stream of others that had enough of the geriatric dance party too.
I'm sorry to have to break the news to you all....and I truly hope that JBJ is reading my blog right now, because he needs some truth in his life.
 and his GOD-AWFUL hair!!!!


BON JOVI IS LIMP AND WASHED UP!!!
And no amount of Viagra is going to help!!!!

~Sunday~
We were re-living the concert.  Still in shock by the let down.
......and came to the realization, that WE are the rock stars this weekend.
I don't know why, who, or what made this all possible, but it was a weekend that will live in my memory forever.
Each time the three of us girls get together, we bond stronger and more understanding to each ones lives.
We know that we each need the other.......

What happens in Vegas......
Happened to me :)