2006 Move Over for 2007

So Christmas 2006 has come and gone! I sure hope Santa was good to you, as he was very good to me. Little Bianca was once again the highlight of the season. She makes any day a better day! She helped us all "opie" our presents this year!

I can't believe how fast time flew this year. All I know is that 2006 is almost over, and I can't wait. When I think back to this year, there weren't too many good things that happened. But I am starting my 2007 resolution early - to think more positive. And there was also lots of good that happened this year.

Here are some highlights:

• My immediate family is healthy and happy.
• My beautiful niece is thriving and growing up so quickly.
• I bought my own condo.
• I was lucky enough to celebrate another birthday this year, even though I did it kicking and screaming!
• I celebrated the above birthday in Las Vegas!
• I got a promotion at work (it's only temporary - but I'm thinking positively).
• Learned who my friends and family truly are.
• I got a pet fish named Hurley and he rocks!

So here is hoping that you can all find the good in 2006 and carry it over to 2007!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Not Ready To Make Nice

Okay, I am going to try and summarize the chaos in my life, due to my "family", in 5 sentences or less.

My mother's younger sister's daughter (my 1st cousin) who was in my sister's wedding and was my niece's Godmother, and was more like a sister to me than a cousin sent me the most hurtful, mean e-mail that anyone could ever send another person. She isn't sorry for her actions, she is proud. This has torn apart our already fraying family. I haven't heard from her mother since the e-mail in August. Not even for my birthday. Nothing. Nada. This whole thing is out of control, and there just doesn't seem to be a way to fix it. We are not spending Christmas with this side of the family for the first time in YEARS.

I am so angry and hurt that my cousin would do this to us. But mostly, I can't believe that she doesn't think that she did anything wrong. I just wish I could have her read the e-mails through my eyes, and not hers, so she could see the damage that she has done.

Okay, so that was more than 5 lines... Sorry.

Anyway, my aunt showed up at my parent's house on Tuesday with a Christmas card, some baked goods and a gift for Bianca. In the card she hoped for a peaceful and forgiving New Year. Which begs the question - if nobody is sorry, what is the forgiveness for?

Then, when I got home yesterday, there was a card waiting for me from my cousin. The same cousin who "no longer wanted to spend time with me, as I was tiring and trying to be around". The same one who "used to look up to me, but no longer wants to be the person that I am".

I haven't decided what I am going to do with this card yet. The only thing that has been consistent in my mind these last few months is the song by the Dixie Chicks, "I'm Not Ready To Make Nice". And I'm not. And I don't know if I ever will...

Merry Freakin' Christmas!!

A Few of My Favorite Things - Vegas Style

My sign... I know that Millions would disagree with me... But on this trip, and this day, it was my sign!

A gondola ride in Venice in Las Vegas... That's not us, btw, but it my mind it is...

There is only a Las Vegas Boulavard in Las Vegas, Nevada... I think!

This is the Wynn Hotel. I was literally standing right beside it when I took this picture. It might be my favourite picture I took this whole trip!

On our way to Freemont St. You can't go to Vegas without seeing the "Original Vegas"!

This is Vicky - as in Cowboy Vic's lil' lady... I will post a picture of Vic (he is on Lori's camera). Vicky sits on top of the Glitter Gulch... the most well-known, cheesiest strip joint on Freemont St. and possibly all of Las Vegas!

A Drive-Thru Wedding Chapel... Nothin' says Vegas like that!!

The crazy thing about Vegas is that it is so huge and there is so much to see. But the attention to detail is amazing. These gold-plated Caesar heads are the lane dividers in front of Caesar's Palace. Not white lines, not yellow dashes - Gold-plated Caesar heads.

This was my first installment... More of my favourite things to come...

Karma

Okay, so I am taking a bit of a break from our Las Vegas adventures today. This blog is entitled "A Day In The Life Of Paula" and this is why...

On Friday, my sister turned 32! Happy Birthday Lori! And to celebrate this occasion, I took a "personal day" at work. These personal days are to be used for illness, appointments and any other last minute emergencies. Not to finish your Christmas Shopping.

I made the obligatory call to my boss, and after my 48 second (ring time included) Academy Award winning performance, I hopped out of bed and into the shower. I was dressed and out the door all before 9 AM. What a day this was going to be!!!

I got to my sister's place and she and my niece, Bianca, were ready to go. Lori mentioned that Bianca didn't really seem herself this morning, and that she might not be fully recovered from whatever bug attacked her little system over the last few days. No matter!! Onward and upward!!

We hit the mall. Actually just the parking lot, when Bianca needed her first diaper change. This wasn't going to get us down. We quickly found a family washroom and changed the baby. Off we were. We hit a couple more stores and things seemed to be going well. I wasn't feeling too great, but chalked it up to the aforementioned diaper incident.

As we were shopping in Roots, the diaper needed to be changed. Again. Lori took care of it this time, and I paid for the Christmas gifts. As Lori walked back into the store, I looked at her, and we both sniffed the air, and realized, that yes, Bianca needed ANOTHER change. This was not looking good. We decided to throw the towel in.

But wait!! It was a false alarm. With a new found excitement, we hit Zellars for some stocking stuffers. We were doing extremely well in Zellars, but I was quickly feeling more and more queasy. Bianca was ready for a nap, so we headed home.

We stopped for some take-out lunch on the way. (I had convinced myself that I was queasy because I was hungry). Bianca went down for a nap, Lori and I ate, and as we were getting ready to wrap some gifts, the phone rang. Lori chatted and I instantly fell asleep. 45 minutes later I woke up and didn't feel to good. But, there was wrapping to do!

We finished up some wrapping, Bianca woke up and needed 2 diaper changes back to back, Tim came home and we all headed to my parent's place for dinner. We ordered pizza and then headed up to visit some cousins in Bradford for a little holiday visit. I still didn't feel great, but no big deal.

The 45 min. drive was uneventful and our visit was going great. We don't get to see these cousins very often, but when we do, it's as if no time has past. I love those moments.

Suddenly, around 10:30 everything became very, very bad. My stomach was flip-flopping and I just knew things weren't going to end well. I stood up and suggested that it was time to leave. Being Italian, it takes approx. 20 mins. to say good-bye. I had factored this and the 45 min. drive home in, and hoped for the best.

I couldn't speed, in fact, I could barely go over the speed limit, as my father was in the car, and if he could issue speeding tickets as a citizen, I would be his top client. So, I concentrated on driving and not the circus act in my stomach. At one point my dad asked me what was wrong, because I was too quiet and actually giving my parents an opportunity to speak. I said that I was okay, and was just tired. I thought if I told them I wasn't feeling well, they would want to pull over or something.

So, we made it home, and just as I was opening my parent's front door, the wave hit me. I ran to the upstairs bathroom, just in time.

I was then sick for the rest of the weekend. Missed out on our annual Kris Kringle event and everything!

Who calls in sick from work and then actually gets sick?!!? Me!!

Karma... you are a bitch!

Wins and Losses in Las Vegas

Okay, so here is a little thing that we are calling Wins and Losses, or ups and downs... While we were in Vegas we had a lot of them...

WIN - Going to Vegas
LOSS - Having to take a connecting flight - on a 50 seater!

W - Arriving at the airport early, as directed and getting an earlier flight, on a big plane with a shorter stopover for our connecting flight to Vegas
L - Weather really crappy, late leaving T.O - might miss connecting.

W - Land just in time to board next flight - no waiting in Charlotte airport!!!
L - Landing in Vegas, no window seat and camera not working to take pictures of the strip from the plane

W - Lori fixes my camera while we are waiting for our luggage
L - Waiting and waiting for our luggage - looks like it is lost!

W - Luggage arrives on carrier even though the next plane's luggage is already being loaded
L - Exit airport. We misjudged Las Vegas weather in December. Much colder.

W - The shuttle to take us to our hotel is close, and we don't wait very long.
L - As we are waiting, we realize that there are lots of Cowboys around us. Two of which are waiting for the same shuttle. They talk. ALOT.

W - LOTS OF COWBOYS IN VEGAS FOR THE RODEO!!!
L - Shuttle drops us off at the BACK of the Hotel. No grand entrance for us.

W - Hotel is stunning and decorated so beautifully for Christmas
L - Long line to registration desk

W - Get a nice person helping us named Joo-Lie
L - Our room was given away - no more rooms with 2 double beds.

W - We are upgraded to a KING SUITE - $2300/night for this room!!!!
W - That was so good, that I have to say it again - KING SUITE!!!

Here is our reaction to the King Suite doors (the only double doors on the floor)!

W - Our room is stunning - we are so spoiled already!
L - We walk around the casino a little, and then hit the sheets for the night. Even though we are in the King Suite, one of us has to sleep on a cot.

W - Cot is more comfortable than my own bed at home!
L - Falling asleep in Las Vegas

W - Waking up in Las Vegas
W - Waking up in Las Vegas in a King Suite
L - Having to leave the King Suite - even if it just for the day

W - Having three bathrooms in the King Suite so we can all get ready at the same time.
L - Get in touch with Kerri - she has to work

W - Renata and Mirella come to check out the King Suite - they love it!
L - Late start to the day - after 11 AM and we still haven't left the hotel

W - Able to secure tickets to see Le Reve - for half price - thanks to Ren's cousin!
L - Not too much sight seeing done today

W - Kerri is able to get away for most of the afternoon and she hangs out with us on the strip! What a trooper!
L - Keely is really tired, she goes back to the hotel to rest - we keep on truckin'

W - See the Venetian and Paris hotels - simply amazing
L - head back to our hotel to get ready for the show and our keys (cards) for the doors aren't working

W - Keely isn't a sleep, so she can let us in.
L - Tells us that we are being kicked out of the King Suite for some high rollers

W - At least we had one night in the King Suite.
L - Lori and I head down to the registration desk to get our new room

W - There was a misunderstanding!!! We get to keep the King Suite...
L - ...But might miss Le Reve with all this confusion

W - Hotel comps us $100 food and beverage credit for the misunderstanding
L - That's great, but we are still worried about missing the show.

W - We make the show!!
L - Very thirsty during the show, but don't want to leave and miss anything

W - The show was just amazing!
L - Decide to try the buffet at the Wynn - too expensive!

W - Head back to Caesars and hit the buffet there. It's great and we have a $5 off coupon
L - Keely heads to bed early - can't shake the jet lag...

W - Lori and I anxiously await Leah's arrival!
L - Leah got shafted on the taxi ride - they charged her $40 US dollars for a 10 minute ride

W - Leah got to share the joy of the King Suite!
L - Quiet celebration to not wake the sleeping Keely

W - Hit the Paris hotel - just in time for midnight
L - Midnight means 30 for me!

W - Turned 30 in Paris in Las Vegas with Lori and Leah
L - Really bad cover band singing Justin Timberlake. Really bad.

W - Cowboys dancing to bad cover band
L - Leah starving, can't find anything opened in Paris

W - Head to Bally's - surprisingly beautiful inside
L - still no food!

W - We find a muffin stand while leaving Bally's
L - 2 croissants and a bottle of water - $9!

W - Best croissants EVER
L - Time for Bed...

W - Wake up to doorbell (DOORBELL IN THE KING SUITE!?!?!?)!! It's a cute waiter with a bottle of champagne.
L - We are in our pajama's.

W - Champagne is from my parents and some friends
L - Lady writing the card didn't understand and just put mom and dad. Loved it anyway!!!

W - Champagne was great!
L - None of us really drink champagne

W - Did I mention the view from the King Suite - stunning. We looked over the pools at Caesars. We could see part of the strip and some of the red rocks. Stunning!
L - Couldn't figure out how to open the curtains - there was a button, not a string to pull.

This is just the start of our day on Saturday... The Wins and Losses continues...

First Post

Hey Guys!!!

So, this is my first post on MY BLOG!!!! I basically started this blog because I just got back from LAS VEGAS and we took over 500 pictures. What better way to show them than with a blog?!!?!?

We went to Vegas for my birthday. My 30th birthday. I have been calling it my 20-10th birthday. I like the sound of that much better. It means I am still in my 20's!!! ANYWAY! I had the best birthday ever. My sister, Lori, and our friends Keely and Leah all went for a girls' weekend. Also, our friends Renata and her sister, Mirella, who also travelled from Toronto were there. Best of all, we were able to connect with a pal that used to live here, but moved back to Vegas - our gal Kerri!!!!

We stayed in Caesar's Palace and let me tell you, Caesar was GOOD to us!

I am going to post this blog and then figure out how to upload all my pictures to show everyone.

Paula