VEGAS!!!

Man oh MAN. Last weekend BF and I went to Las Vegas for a long-ish weekend. We left Friday morning and got home Sunday afternoon. About 5hours each way since I drove (even got a little geocaching in). I had wanted to go for my birthday back in August but it was decided that August is just to hot to venture out to the desert. So we changed it to February for BF's birthday. Then Sister informed me that one of her friends had decided to get married in Vegas the 2nd week in March. Since BF hadn't met any of my family we pushed our trip back a few weeks so he could meet Sister and her hubby. 

We arrived on Friday afternoon. Checking in to the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino was a little crazy. Even after asking directions from an attendant it took us a good 20 min to find the correct check in desk. Once we got to our room it was neat. Fittingly they assigned us the "Lost in Space" room. At PH each guest room is decorated with movie or at least some type of Hollywood memorabilia. 

We were again lucky to get a GREAT view from our room. We were directly across from the Bellagio and had an awesome view of their famous fountain. Also Sister and all her friends were staying there.  

For BF's b-day I gave him 2 tickets to The Amazing Johnathan who was supposed to be playing in Vegas. It happens that he got in a car accident the week before and ended up canceling his show. This is the 2nd time this has happened to BF. Since we didn't have a show to attend later BF decided to take me all over the strip.  It was a nice laid back day. Walking all over seeing all the nifty stuff that Vegas has to offer and not being rushed. Got to check out all the major casinos, since it was early it wasn't super crowded and I could wander like the little tourist I was. 

Later that night we got dinner at The Strip House which is inside PH. I loved the decor. It has red velvet-ish walls with womens naked silhouettes raised and all the art was 20's and 30's era porn photographs. Very well done for a porn themed steak house. 

The next day we met up with Sister and hubby at about 830 for morning cocktails. Yep BF fits in with my family JUST RIGHT. Had a little breakfast and chatted then met up with more Rhode Islanders that had attended the wedding and headed down to the Fremont Street Experience. We all took the bus from PH to Fremont street, its about 4miles. I love bus tours and even though it wasn't an official bus tour I got to see LOTS of things.....about 100 wedding chapels of every style Elvis, drive thru, little, medium, large even one with a hotel attached for easy access honeymooning. A naughty warehouse store (it was seriously the size of a super wal-mart) can't forget the 1/2 off lawyers, the Clark County Detention Center (home of the show Jailhouse on Spike) and thats just a little of what was in those four miles. 

Once we got to Fremont Street more booze was purchase and of course the required bottle opener souvenir. Sister, D and I decided we wanted to do the Zipline down Fremont Street. Unfortunately D left her ID back in her room so only Sister and I could do it. All the mens were busy drinking or scared of heights. The lady in front of us was TERRIFIED but her reasoning was "I already paid so I'm gonna do it." Once we got the 6stories (roof of the building plus up a flight of scaffolding) she just kept talking non-stop. They strap you in to these harnesses and then teather you to the scaffolding before they attach you to the zipline and then on the count of 3 they FLING you out over the street. The woman in front of us finally calmed down and was ready to go, the man flings her out over the street and about 10 feet away she swivels around and screams "YOU SON OF A BITCH" Every one laughed so hard. Then it was our turn. It was super fun and over in no time. BF got pics but all you can see in it is butts. 

After that we all milled around Fremont a while longer. D won some money and I lost about $5. Got some pics in the casino to prove we actually gambled and only losing $5 I was happy. When we came out of the casino there was a man stuck on the zipline. Some how he lost momentum and two employees had to ratchet out to the spot in the line where he was stuck and drag him down. At least he was a good sport about it and laughing the whole time. 

Finally we headed back and I got to grab a geocache =) Hooray!! So I can fill in that state on my map. I have decided that my goal is to get at least one find a month this year and eventually one find in every state. (Low goals are better then no goals right) 

Once we got back the 3hour feeding needed to take place so we headed over to Pink's Famous Hot Dogs to feed me before the Hangry struck. I don't think Pink's was the best idea since everyone but me had an upset digestive track the rest of the night. 

Quick nap and change then off to LOVE the Cirque de Sole set to the music of The Beatles. Sister was nice enough to get BF and I tickets so we could attend with her and the rest of the RI crew. It was very cool. Very acid trippy. I didn't really expect a story and there might have been one but it also could have just been random I don't know. Very cool is my official stance. BF wasn't very impressed but he doesn't care for acid or the Beatles very much anyway, but he did admit it was enjoyable. 

Over all we had a great time. I even had an excuse to get "hookered up", thanks to co-worker, I had the proper attire to do so.  Sister and Hubby seemed to like BF and submitted a favorable report to Mom and Dad, followed by a very nice invite to visit P's Palace in RI. (Aka Sisters house since we all stay there when we visit) Hopefully that will be on the agenda for our next long distance excursion.   

Until next time....  

Birthday, Beer and a Peckham Event

Wow it has been a good minute since I wrote a blog. Lets see here......I had a birthday. Jason organized a dinner at BJ's Brewery for that. Had most of the people I wanted there. (Br was absent due to her move to Fla) I split food with a friend while Jason and another guy ordered two party sized Pizookie's. They are SOOOO good.
The next week some other friends arranged for me to have my very first solo pinata. It was hello Kitty since they know of my dislike and fear of cats, what is better to beat the stuffing out of?!?!
 
I sent Gertrude to the junk man. =( The state of Cali wouldn't let me register her because She wouldn't pass smog with out some serious engine work that I just couldn't afford. So I took her down to Chula Vista (Aka Chulajana since it is spitting distance from Mexico) and handed her over to the junk man. Only got $475 but that's a decent start to a savings fund for my next one. After that we went geocaching in the Tijuana River Basin. There is a cache there called "Non more southwesterly" it was a 3 mile hike round trip. I survived it though. Found out that we have a monument at that spot right where the US meets Mexico and the Pacific. Funny thing is though that there is a GIANT fence around the "Friendship Circle" It is technically on half US/half Mexico land. Our side is totally locked up. Mexico's side is wide open. Silly US.

I have gone off my tramadol, it started making me sick and SUPER cranky. Just dealing with over the counters for now. Hopefully I can get insurance again soon and try a new painkiller.

The bar we go to had another Beer Pairing dinner on the 6th. I was sooooo not impressed. First they upped the price from $50 a person to $75. I wouldn't have bought the tickets but I had already promised my friend I would take her for her b-day. Only about 30 tickets were sold to the entire event. We got an extra one the day of for her BF. So they were hoping to sell more but didn't. I think the price was a huge factor in that. The food was spaced sooooo far apart that I ordered an appetizer off the regular menu to tide us over between course #3 and #4. After ward the head chef came out and was non-to happy with us making that order. But not only was the food forever apart it all came out cold. UGH. The beer was nothing special either. Then again I am not a beer drinker but really out of 5 beers I didn't take more then 3 sips of any of them. Bleah. The company was awesome though.

The very next day I left for Rhode Island since my sister was getting married. I got in on wednesday, the wedding was on friday and I got back to Cali on sunday at about 1030 am. It was a quick trip. I didn't get to eat all the food I wanted but I got some: Allies doughnuts, Kingston Pizza (Couch Potato is my FAVE!), Earnie T's and Dunkin'.
Thursday night the "Ladies" went out for snacks and drinks before the big day. Not really a bachelorette party but pretty close. First stop was Earnie T's. The attendees were Myself, my mother, my aunt (father's sister), my sister (Bride), my sister-in-law (Golden's wife), Maid-of-Honor, and Sandy. We have a cute waiter who is noticeably BUFF, and the ladies flirt and tease (with in reason nothing to crude) as they pound back Slippery Nipple shots and Gin and Tonics. Sister's drink of choice is Vodka and Club, but the bar kept giving her vodka and tonic. I finally said something and told him he had to do a "jig" to make up for it. Well he didn't know what a jig was so he offered to crack sisters back as an apology. She LOVED it.

Then he offered to give anyone a piggy back ride to the car. I was nominated for the piggy back ride because Sister In Law refused. That is when the "Loaded Ladies" decided that Waiter should be my date to the wedding. Once we were all outside mom and Bride pull him aside and ask him to come to the wedding the next day and give him MY phone number. The next morning I came down stairs and showed Mom that he had texted me and was going to show up, also he requested the beef plate for dinner. =D I think she was in a state of mild astonishment the rest of the day.
He arrived a little late because of my bad directions. Meh he only missed my reading of Dr. Seuss' Oh the Places You Will Go. Came right in and sat in the 2nd row with me and the family. (Yes, I chose the 2nd row because I knew he was going to be late.) He ended up being an amazing date. Sandy from the night before had the best reaction when seeing him there. First her face was confused/recognition then she saw me standing with him and she BUSTED out laughing. No one thought he would show. He made conversation with both my father and my grandmother. Danced with my mom. Took pictures for the family and bought my cousins drinks.

Sister and all the Cousins, with Golden's Nuggets.

Mom getting her groove on!

This was a total surprise.

Saturday night we (the family) were supposed to go to Howl at the Moon in Boston, but they all were pooped. Maid of Honor and I were still stoked to go but even with both of us whining the old fogies still got to stay on the farm. We had a campfire and some smores. My friend T and her Hubby came down. She is try out being gluten free so she got gluten-free smores....just marshmallow on a reeses cup. Everyone had a good chill night.

Guess that is all the news for now. I will try to get back in to the blogging swing. I feel bad for making Br handle B & B all by herself for so long now.

Until next time....

Count down to SDCC!

I feel like a zombie....not like I want brains or anything, I just feel like a stretched out slinkie. Only I don't know where all my time and energy go. Operation "Bring Keagan Home" is going as well as can be expected. I have gotten way more donations then I ever expected and I am super thankful for all the help.

I found a nifty give-away today. It is for "green" chap-stick click here to enter and tell her I sent you <3   Eco Lips Giveaway 

I am starting to get super excited about Comic Con!! It is June 21-24 at the San Diego convention center. Br and I are going to dress up both days. I think Saturday we are going all steam-punky complete with corsets and short skirts. Then Sunday I am dressing as Holo from Spice and Wolf. I have Catherine from The Cat's Pajamas making this costume for me. (Yes I will post pics after SDCC)   I swear if I hear any 'furry' jokes I will harm people! Some of the people I am going to stalk that are scheduled to be there are: R. K. Milholland of Something*Positive, Danielle Corsetto of Girls with Slingshots, J. Jacques of Questionable Content and of course the one I am MOST excited about author Christopher Moore.

Nothing else really of interest is going on. My sister's wedding is coming up quickly and I need to get tickets, but I keep slacking on that. *writes note on hand to buy tickets* I am also slightly stressing about seeing people in Rhode Island that I haven't seen since February. Plus what in the hell do you wear to a beachy 2nd wedding (both bride and groom) in September. ARRG family is so stressful!!

Maybe I will go do a review on B&B to chill out. Definitely doing a mailbox post on Sunday since I have gotten some awesome things already this week.

TTFN

Happy Fourth of July and All That Brew Ha Ha

I love fireworks! I just wish they weren't quite so loud. My favorite is the squiggly squirmy kind. They remind me of one of those science movies you see in school about sperm. (I know I have a seriously dirty mind)  I know everyone knows all about the Fourth of July but I would like to take this time to do my own little analysis of the National Anthem. Since that is what is usually most credited for the fireworks display. 

 Star Spangled Banner ~ Francis Scott Key (1814)

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

(personally I like that line, it sets a nice tone)
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

(Was he hiding? Watching from a safe distance?)
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

(This is where those famous fireworks come in)

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

(Oh hey what be that there?)
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

(Wait I thought it was just in the ocean, now its in a stream?)
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

(Nener Nener boo boo)
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
(Oh the rhyming, it makes me want a peanut)

 Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

(well all those that we count as men that is...no blacks or mexicans or even indians at this time may apply)
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

(Until it isn't cool to proclaim your belief in god, for fear that you are going to cause someone who pays taxes to become butt hurt)
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

I just realized this will be the first Fourth that I will be totally family free. Last year I had the RI family, year before I had long(ish) time friends around. I get to have some new experiences this year. Going to a lake out in the boonies of East County with some people. Its just weird. I'm used to being with the family and BBQ-ing then going to Old Mountain Field for fireworks. The 4th is the only holiday that the family really gathers for, since it isn't a religious holiday. 

Really quick I would like to share a story....

It is tradition in our family to bail the hay at the RI farm around the 4th of July then once that has been done we have a big BBQ and then we all go for fireworks. One year we had a lot of the family there to help and as is also tradition my family likes to throw a few bails on the trailer and then toss a beer back. So one cousin is fondly remembered for having a few two many and passing out on the trailer bed to sleep it off. Some passers by saw this and called the law to make sure he was ok. Nothing really exciting happened they just said that he needed to move off the trailer which was parked on a public road. So I got to witness his wife picking him up like a child and carting him to the house. I don't think he will ever live that one down.

Anyway hope everyone has a good holiday no matter what you all end up doing. I know I will end up being DD some time in the night. I'm sure there will be pics and at least a story or two. Till then.......

Family

Day 9: A photo of your family
Well lets see here, seems like my family is always changing. So Im going to put up the one that was taken this spring. Dont mind the edits *giggle*

Went and saw The season of the witch last night. I liked it. I can see why the critics didn't though. Also found out last night that Brandi knows Im going to visit her. =) So I can be all super excited and GIDDY now.