It is Turkey Time!

Thanksgiving is almost here and I am afraid by the time the day actually gets here, I am going to be most thankful that it is over. Blaine and I are hosting our very first Thanksgiving.....in mid-MO on Thursday for 19 people (including members from both of our families.) We are very excited to be preparing our first Thankgiving dinner - although we have cheated on our turkey, but that is a secret (we are having it smoked by Half Sauced at the lake....one of our favorite places to eat.) Shhhhh....

We are serving up the traditionals.... turkey, ham, potatoes (in all forms), rolls, green bean casserole, stuffing...you name it; we are having it. We do have some help with some things though - so THANKS for all of the food contributions. Starting Wednesday, we are going to have a house full. Mom, Dad, Shania, Julie, Tyler & Brad are making the trip in the early afternoon to be there for the annual "I am Thankful for Texas Hold 'Em" poker tournament. Brad is a new addition (and loooong time family friend) and I plan on taking his money....for sure! Later we will be joined by Ashley (Blaine's sister), Adam (her husband) and Blaine's Granny. And even later than that we will be joined by Tre' and Ronea (Blaine's cousins from Wisconsin). Everyone else will be joining the fun on Thursday.

Since the beginning of November, I have been working on a turkey naming contest at work where I got nearly 1600 elementary and middle schools to help me name this year's turkey that was pardoned today. Actually the contest got so heated, we named and pardoned two turkeys. Here I am with Stewie the Turkey. Turkulese the turkey is nearby. It was great to have this contest over - for me and for taxpayers. You have no idea how much time I spent on this project. And you have no idea how much time was spent in classrooms this month with kids voting for the turkey names. We received over 4.5 million votes - yes...I said 4.5 million.

Well...I am off to bake something!!! Thanksgiving is almost here.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

So Many Stories....So Little Time!

This may just have to be the longest post ever because my stories of Vegas are endless. I think that I had one of the best times of my life. And you know....that is usually what happens when you don't have any expectations for a trip and you just go with the flow.


Friday, Blaine and I landed in Las Vegas ready for whatever....really. We had no plans other than to check out some places that we had not been before. Frankly, that's kind of hard to do - we thought - since we both have been there so many times and our favorite places are calling our names! And we were there by ourselves (without friends) so we really didn't have to make a plan. After waiting in line at the airport for a cab with thousands (yes, thousands) of Vegas-goers, we arrived at the Monte Carlo. We had tickets for Pure nightclub at Ceasar's Palace - so that is where we headed.

Pure was awesome. I was on the scope for Audrina or L.C. from The Hills or anyone else famous. I didn't recognize anyone but the place was so insanely packed that I wouldn't have probably recognized them anyway. I loved this place - a lot. Great music, perfect atmosphere....I kind of felt like a star just being there. And of course we stayed late...very late. I think my head hit the pillow at about 4 a.m.


Now Saturday brought some very bizarre incidences. First, our door opens sometime between the time we got home and waking up. Somehow someone had a key to our room. After Blaine yelled they left. And we went back to sleep. Then sometime around 10 a.m. Blaine's co-worker Chris called. He wanted to let us know he was now in town and wanted to know our room number. Because we were still sleeping it didn't even register why he wanted our room number. A few minutes later, the phone in the room rang. Blaine was a wee bit pissy by now, as was I. We just wanted to sleep. The caller, the front desk, put him on hold. A few cuss words flew out of sleepy Blaine's mouth. And then the caller started asking all of these question about how we liked our room, etc. We didn't like our room (it wasn't super clean, someone had walked into our room uninvited and we wanted to change rooms to a king.) The front desk assured us that this would happen and we could change rooms in the afternoon. After almost falling back to sleep and Blaine taking a shower - the unexpected happened again.


Someone was pounding on our door. The last words I heard out of Blaine was, "I am going to let them have it!" Once he opened the door, I hear laughter - and lots of it. I just laid there thinking surely whoever was at the door wasn't going to come in. But low and behold, in walked Jason, Lora, Kristina and Shandon - they flew to Vegas too...to surprise us. I lay in bed in tears that I had such great friends! That very big gesture meant the world to me - and will forever. And it means the world to Blaine too. (*I actually just talked to him while he is still in Vegas and he said, "no one has ever done anything like that before. I am so thankful for our friends.") I agree - who just does something like flying to Vegas to surprise their friends that begged you to go and you said you couldn't? Who does such a thing...really? Well...the Watts' & the Smith's are who.....my BFF's.


After my crying ended, we hit the Vegas streets. First, Diablo's, an awesome mexican cantina. Then off to walk the streets before heading back to change and get dinner at a fabulous tapas restaurant called Firefly (I highly recommend this place....we passed around dish after dish with lots of "oohs" and "ahhs.") We headed to MGM where we saw 50 Cent (or Fitty and also known as Nelly if you ask Jason.) We ended our night at LAX nightclub at the Luxor dancing the night away.


I will leave you with a short summary of the other great things we did (with maybe some more fab stories later....like I said there are so many!!)


** Sunday brought a trip downtown. I hit jackpot....all $41 of it!

** While downtown, Lora, Kristina and I were taken by some street vendor who told us that we looked like Barbies...and we bought it. And we bought the dresses they were selling too. That set me back $70....there went my winnings.

** We had a paper airplane flying contest at the Stratosphere....I lost.

** After Shandon decided he was a big baby and almost cried, I had to get on the ride he had bought tickets for. The X-Scream is something I never want to hear, see or experience again. What was I thinking? Maybe I had a few too many cocktails.....

** Monday brought shopping and a trip to The Bodies exhibit. If you haven't seen this, it is worth $30. I never imagined doing this either, but I guess Vegas was all about firsts for me....

** Monday night I went to a party with Blaine for gaming industry peeps. It was at Rain nighclub at the Palms and was all you can eat and drink. Enough said.

** I visited the Playboy bar at the Palms and can say I love rhinestone walls. Beautiful. Trashy maybe but no one was naked....

** I saw a live karoke band at Diablo's. It was neat - wish they would have played longer and I would have broke out in a little, "I Love Rock n Roll...put another dime in the jukebox baby!"


And Tuesday it was time to come home. It is hard to leave 80 degree weather for 30 degree weather, let me tell ya. I miss Vegas already...who is ready to go back?

Maybe I can drive one of these?

There are these cool gondolas at the Venetian that I could steer and sing to the unfearing boardees.... "ALL ABOARD BRAVE UNSUSPECTING SOULS! YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!"

Maybe I can turn my little boat ride into the boat ride on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Okay...now I am just being weird....maybe it's the altitude.
At any rate, I am on my way home soon to St. Louis. I bet it is cold there.....brrrrr......
See ya'll soon!!

Not Hiring?

Not hiring....that's the story of my life. Coach and Louis don't even know how much they neeeeeed me. Oh well. Back to Missouri it is....

I think I should get a sign like this for my office. What do you think? It would go nice in my industry.....

Still in Vegas...miss me yet?

Uhhh...that showgirl thing didn't so much work out. Do you think that either of these stores would hire me? Maybe I could stay in Vegas forever?? I would be a great PR person for Coach or Louis Vuitton...don't ya think?

Playing in Vegas...

Since I more than likely will not be posting much while I am away to Las Vegas, I leave you with these photos. Enjoy them each day!!!










Do you think I should try out to be a showgirl? Just asking....

In the Words of Elvis...

"Man, I like Vegas!" I have to agree with Elvis. I just love Vegas, too, and I will be arriving there in about 24 hours. I don't know what is on the agenda first, but I can guarantee Blaine and I are going to have a blast. Blaine has scored some VIP tickets to some fabulous hangouts including LAX at Luxor, Pure at Ceasar's Palace and Body English at Hard Rock Casino. Did I mention a cocktail party at the Palms....I can't wait to be wined and dined.

I have been to Vegas so many times and each time I come back with great stories....like the time I flew out with Lora & Jason a day before Blaine did for the Superbowl and enjoyed huge fruity drinks at a piano bar and huge football drinks downtown...or the time Ryan, Melissa, Blaine & I wandered around aimlessly taking funny photos...or the time we went out to Vegas and stayed at the Fairfield Resort in a fancy condo and the bachelorette party tried to stay out longer than the bachelor party...or the time Blaine, Ashley and I got on the roller coaster on top of the Stratosphere....or the time Blaine and I climbed Red Rock Canyon because we were actually tired of the strip. My first time in Vegas was when I was 17 and I have loved it ever since.

Many people tell me that they don't like to gamble and have no reason to go to Vegas. It is not about gambling for me - it is about the lifestyle, the shopping, the people watching, the whole experience. I can't get enough - actually I can in about 4 days but as soon as I get home and get some sleep, I am ready to go back.

So WATCH OUT VEGAS because I am on my way back. I can't even remember how many times I have actually been to Vegas - and once even spent about two and a half weeks out there. Like I said, I can't get enough.

So pack up the pink suitcases, I am outta here.... Viva Las Vegas, baby!!!

Sick of Sickness - but feeling well.

This week has been a crazy one for several reasons. Here are a few notes to recap...

** I worked worked Monday as a regular work day. But Tuesday it was Veteran's Day and we were off work. Love State Holidays!!

** I became very ill on Tuesday and thought I was coming down with strep throat - a nasty illness that I get every year. Luckily I had a leftover prescriptions so I started popping those (and some vitamins.) I missed work on Wednesday - was very tired, my throat was killing me, I had body aches. Holy crap, I thought. I don't have time to miss work...I am leaving for Vegas on Friday. But i kept slamming the antibotics and hoped for the best.

** Our hot water heater quit working - oh that's just great - I am sick and now I have to take cold showers...I don't think so. We went to a friends house to shower Wednesday night. I thought, "are you kidding me? I feel this bad and have to leave the house to shower.

Well...great news. I feel like a champ. I don't think the antibiotic helped but getting out of the house did.....here is why (you might want to make sure you sitting Momma Moore....you are not going to like this story):

Monday night Blaine decided that for a 2nd time in a week he was going to re-seal our stained concrete floors in the basement. He had sealed it last Friday and we opened up the house, aired it out and was fine. But Monday night he finished up while I was in bed. Unknown to either of us because we weren't using our heads, the consequences of actually sleeping in a fume-filled house is not good. I guess if you really think about it - it can't be good. But I had full faith that Blaine wouldn't let me die in the process (okay a little over-dramatic there, but I am just sayin').

Tuesday I started feeling like crap - but kept chugging along on my laundry list of things to get done. By 7:30, I was in bed dead to the world. Wednesday wasn't any better. In the meantime the water heat goes caput on us and we are disgusted. So the plumber comes to look at it and calls Blaine and says that the sensor for fumes/toxins/things that will make the wife sick has gone off and the water heater automatically shut off so there wouldn't be an explosion. When Blaine explained this to me - I didn't get it.... mostly because I wasn't "getting" anything at that point. I was probably high from the fumes (again over-dramatically speaking).

But now I get it.... I had become sick from the concrete floor fumes. I am not sure how Katie (my dog) and I ever lived. Katie stayed outside most of the day yesterday - I guess she is smarter than me. We aired out the house and last night I was feeling pretty good after going to a friends house for a while to shower are "air out." This morning - throat hurt, felt like crap. But after a few short hours at work, I feel like a champ. Really! Fresh air - I love it.

The house is open all day for airing out and I know by tonight it will be liveable again. But I can tell you that this fiasco will never happen again. I told Blaine next time he tried to kill me just to put a bullet in my head - it would be less painful (yes....over-dramatic again). Truthfully, he can't knock me off - who would make sure he matched in the mornings! :-)

Now that I feel better, it is Viva Las Vegas, baby!!

Happy Hour

I had a lot of happy hours over the weekend. Not that I constantly drank away my weekend -but I had lots of hours with friends. On Friday, I joined the work crowd for a going away party for a girl in my office. To be honest, there are very few women that even attempt to get along with others in my office - although our work environment is a non-competitive friendly one. Just some women would rather flip their hair and snarl at one another instead of flashing a quick smile and saying hello. To each their own, I guess. I am sad to see this one smiling face leave - we need all the nice girls we can get. I don't blame her for getting the heck out of dodge, but sad. Happy hour Friday night at El Jimador was fun though.

Saturday brought even more fun. We headed to Faurot Field (see Melissa....I can spell it - twice!) for a little tailgate action and a very cold, windy football game. Ryan and Blaine participated in a little wing off. Although no one was officially declared the winner, I think I was the winner - my belly was full, friends were near by and a winning football game was in the air. Couldn't ask for more - well....except maybe a little more hot chocolate.

After the game, we headed to a new little place called The Tin Can in Columbia. Our pals, Ryan and Melissa joined us after the game to meet up with the Watts and the Sherrow's. The Tin Can is the new home for our lake pal, Paul. He is now the manager there. I am sure he was happy to see all of his old lake friends gathered in the winter to check out his new digs.

Sunday brought plenty of (but never enough) time to chat with Ryan and Mel before they headed back to Chiefs Country (aka Kansas City).

Good weekend, good times, good friends!

How can I hate the Broncos after this?

I was cruising the internet recently and came across this article from the Denver Post. It talks about a little town in Iowa - Parkersburg. I don't know exactly where that is in Iowa, but I do know that's where my pal, Casey, is from. (Casey is the NFL center that I have mentioned before that used to play for my Chiefs but was forced to put on the Denver Broncos jersey - I say forced because there could be no other real explanation!)

You have to read this amazing story and see the movie (if and when it ever comes out of Hollywood.) If this does make it to the big screen, I want to play Casey's hot wife, Danni. (Just kidding...I could never get that skinny!)

Here is a tidbit of the article:

Falcons rising after tornado
PARKERSBURG, Iowa — "You know they're going to make a movie about this, don't you?" — Jared DeVries to Broncos starting center Casey Wiegmann. When Hollywood gets hold of the story of Parkersburg, Iowa, the little town that could, the final shot undoubtedly will be of the Falcons joyfully hoisting the 2008 high school state championship trophy. At some point though, perhaps early in the film, an artistic cinematographer might focus on the signage. Not the flashing message at the local branch of the Iowa State bank, which on this day reads that the drive-through window will be closed for repairs. Or the "School XX-ing" crudely painted on the street — really the only indication of any sort that there was a school anywhere in the vicinity.

Read the whole article here: http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_10756897?source=commented-broncos

One Time at Band Camp...

Over the weekend, we had a small family get together in Columbia at the Champion of Champions Band competition at Mizzou. My family including Mom, Dad and Shania & Ronnie, Angel, Tiffani and Sophi all stopped by the house on their way through to watch Sydni compete in the competition. We chatted at the house for a while before we all set out for Faurot Field - home of the mighty tigers!

I will admit - I wasn't all too excited about the band competition. I was very excited to spend the day with my family in my neck of the woods (since I live 2 hours away and don't get to share tidbits of my life with them very often.)

As we walked into the football stadium, I could hear a band....yeehaw (sarcastically) I thought. But as we were seated, I realized that this thing was a big deal. Bands from all around were there to compete for the coveted trophy. After watching 3 other bands that I thought were really good, the Willard Marching Band came out (including Sydni and her color guard squad.) Holy cow - there were so many of them....over 200 Willard students. Sydni was only one of 36 color guard girls (or flags) and they were amazing. The music was great and coordination of that many people was awesome. I quickly realized how much practice and time must go into this type of thing. I began a new appreciation for bands.

Syndi's band made it into the finals. And after a quick dinner at D. Rowe's, we headed back to cheer her on. At about 10 p.m., Willard High took second place for all of their performing glory. Congrats to Sydni and to her school for such a great job!

(Picture 1 - Sydni on the field during the competition. Picture 2 - me & Sophi in the stands.)

Hallelujah It is Over!

Today some people are glad; some people are sad; some people are mad. But I am just as happy as can be - the elections are finally over!

Whether you are for or against our new president-elect, I can say that history was made. More people turned out for this election than ever and more people have been engaged in the conversation of politics than ever before. That is a good thing. More conversation means more knowledge for citizens. More knowledge means more questions to the politicians. More questions to the politicals means more accountability. And accountability from our politicians is exactly what we need.

Now bring on the change for America. We need it!

Hands Up!

Raise your hand if you hate election time! Go ahead...raise your hand....wave it around in the air....like you just don't care. We all know you hate it...heck we all do! I can't wait for it to be over.

The only good thing about this year's election hasn't been the candidates....the issues....or the dreadful commercials. It has been Tina Fey. I didn't really love or hate Tina Fey before this year; I guess I never really thought about her. Now I have become a fan. Her recent impersonations of Sarah Palin have made me laugh out loud far too often in the past couple of months.

If you haven't checked out her latest on Saturday Night Live, you have to! Watch it here on TMZ... It will be sad to see SNL revert back to the days without Tina Fey (unless the McCain/Palin can pull it off and someone can talk Tina Fey into staying). But I bet SNL is happy to have Fey/Palin in the meantime. Maybe we should vote Tina Fey for president....she just may be a better option than what we have.