Back on the Wagon

Months and months have passed since blogging, and although I didn’t stay with writing I did keep up with totally awesome adventures. Sparing the details, here is what I have been busy doing the last 9 months (no kids- 9 months just happens to be the time period!

• I went apple picking, in Las Vegas, there really is a farm out here!


• Beer tasting in Fort Collins with the girls.


• Rented a beach house for the first time with friends- this is the true story of 7 friends picked to live in a beach house, for a week and it was one true story!


• I decided that brussel sprouts really do have value, and they are tasty!


• Went from blondish to brunette back to blond and I am currently with scarlet locks. No worries, the scarlet will be short term!


• Went on the Richard Petty Ride Along, lets just say that was fast, not just fast, but really fast!


• Took the haunted museum tour at the Old Washoe Club in Virgina City, that makes the second location from Ghost Adventures that I have visited. What was that????


• Did some putting at a bungalow at the Mirage


• taught over 66 middle school students how to do the best dance ever- The Flight Attendant (thanks Lo, you are a creative genius)

There really is so much more, yet those are some highlights of my recient adventures. Looking forward to getting back on the wagon and adding some of your ideas.

Cheers!

Pinball Wizard

There is a place in Las Vegas where the lights flash and bells ring, a place that is full of people ready to be the next big winner. It is off the strip, yet holds a whole different type of style. The Pinball Hall of Fame is where I am talking about. To be honest, I didn’t even know that this place existed until a week ago.

It is really a sight to be seen. My first thought driving up was that the parking lot was strikingly full. I suppose that I was thinking it would be a hole in the wall with a couple of troubled kids out front. What is it is an entire warehouse packed full of fun and during daylight hours there are a ton of people there.
They had mature machines and fresh ones. Things from my childhood like Elvira, Star Trek, and Frankenstein. I think the oldest games I played were back from the 50’s and those games were hard. No joke, if I were a greaser in 1959 I would have roughed up those machines too because they gave me a run for my money (i.e. they took my money really fast).

Not just pinball machines, there was Donkey Kong and the original Super Mario Brothers. I stayed away from that stuff though, I am a maniac at Mario Brothers and I would have been there all night, or at least I like to think I was that good and so there for I still am. Right? Sure. In the end, it was $5 of family fun that I never knew existed. The question is, would I go back? Darn right, it was awesome!

#7 "Airness"

What is airness you ask? Airness: the intangible quality of greatness much like charm, swagger, or charisma. Airness is the key for an air guitar gladiator, airness makes champions.

Friday was the Regional Air Guitar Championships, and it was without a doubt the very best $20 I have ever spent in Las Vegas.

YOU WANT TO VIEW THIS LINK: BrockMcRocksVegas.MP4

I laughed so hard I cried. Talk about an entire subculture that I never knew existed. I do want to point out this event is serious, funny as the Easter Bunny in Hammer pants but very serious.

The victor of the event in Las Vegas (Mean Melin) won the right to attend in the National Championships in New York, and the champion of that travels to Finland to represent the US in the Air Guitar World Championships.

Things I didn’t know going into this event:
1. Each person is judged by a live panel of judges on the following categories:
Technical merit
Stage presence
"Airness”
2. There are non props, you need to rock-on alone (no air-band aloud)
3. Costumes; wholly costumes! There were more men in platform boots than I have ever been witnessed (I have been in Las Vegas a long time so that is saying something). The word that comes to mind, flamboyance, literally peacocks, fuzzy boots, and socks (one sock on the foot- use your imagination where the other sock lived). It was over the top wacky.

If you get the chance to go see a competition, do it. This is not for the weak at heart, yet if you appreciation of the finer things in life, like Ram Jam, it is so worth it!

Official rules: http://www.usairguitar.com/rules/

#6 Generous donors

Today was an amazing day! Rapport Empowered Education (the organization I work for) received our first donations from the Ping Pong Championship Charity Fund and also donations courtesy of Team Deep-fry and you know what that means? It was my first time accepting a larger than life check! So cool! I think I get to work on my acceptance of the check; it was too high yet good to know I plan on receiving lots of big checks from generous donors!

What does this money go to? Glad you asked! RapportEducation.org Check out what I do each and every day and find out why it matters!

Simple things like ping pong and cooking can make a difference in a life!

#5 Graduation Celebration

I went home to Northern Nevada and attend my first college graduation since my own. It was really special because it was actually my mom’s graduation, yes after over 30 years of taking college courses and changing her major she attained her degree in Business.

It was interesting because there was a strange moment of pride when I saw my mom cross the stage I got teary-eyed and a little choked up. It is a feeling that I am sure that parents feel all the time, yet because I am an only child with no children I feel this way almost never. I was thoughtful about the experience because I know that the reason it took my mom so long to graduate is really because of me. The sacrifice a parent will give for a child.
I wonder if I will be that type of parent, the one who would put off my own goal or dream for 30 years because my child wanted me home.

I think that it is so important to be an engaged parent yet could I give that much? Can you?

#4 Egg on Pizza

So there is a theme going, my theme is food. I admit that I love food. I love everything about food, I love the smells, the way you can balance sweet and savory, food is something that is more than a life sustainer, it is a way to enjoy all that life offers. It is something that brings me joy and at the same time it inspires me. I admit it; I get inspired by a well executed meal. It takes effort, talent, execution, patience, tools, and at the end I can really enjoy it!

Last night I was in a mood, not the best thing yet I was in a Monday mood. So John and I opted to meet up with some good friends for a drink and appetizer. We ordered a pizza, a pizza with eggs over easy. I have to say that I was apprehensive yet it was delicious! It totally had the flavor of pizza yet it was reminiscent of the egg dish I loved the most as a little girl, egg in a frame. It was something about the egg and the bread combination. In any after I enjoyed the pizza my mood disappeared and I was in a great place (it could have helped that I had a NU cocktail as well though), if you are in town square in Las Vegas head over to NU Lounge it is worth a taste! http://www.nulounge.com/

#3 Where I go

Where I go

It has been a while, and I know off hand one may think that I abandoned my goal. No so! I have been working in Canada and now that I am back have decided that it is a great time to share what I actually do up there and where I really am. I actually spend my time in Chestermere, Alberta at Camp Chestermere. It is a really cute town and I spend my time in luxury cabins. Now you may laugh but the mattress makes all the difference in the world! My Home for 4 days at a time

So what really happens when I train and go to Calgary (Chestermere) is that I fly in and then I get to work with 40-44 teenagers for 48 hours. Basically work on their confidence, increase emotional intelligence and overall have a great time. I love that I get to travel and although the hours are long and the space isn’t the four seasons it is fulfilling and wonderful. I guess this really doesn’t count as something “new” yet it is important.

Does anyone have an idea of how sharing this will help me get to new thing #3 on my list?