Excuses, excuses

I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted.  Honestly, I thought it had been longer.

In the last month, I have started a new job and that is so very time consuming and then there is the significance of loss of the old job.  I had so many great friendships and I truly miss those amazing people.  

We had Handsome's youngest with us for a week, we got to take him to an Spring/Easter party, take a family  photo, meet up with family, got to Disneyland and get sweet kisses and hugs from a kiddo that melts my heart with the sound of his voice.

I wonder if handsome's kiddos will ever fully understand the joy they have all brought to my life.

We are gearing up for summer, planning activities and a possible July vacation to Madison WI & Chicago, IL (EMILY).


Things I love -
Casey on American Idol
Reading my library books
Listening to Paul Simon
Grilled Cheese sandwhiches
Kisses from my old dog Foster


Things I can't stand
Donald Trump and all the other "birthers"
The economy
Semi-trucks
Smog
Watching my loved ones suffer - either physically or financially

The new job is keeping me busy yet reminding me that I am in need of figuring out what *exactly* I am going to be when I grow up.

Weekend update (and it has nothing to do with SNL)

It's an update and it's technically the weekend though it's not an update about the weekend.  I know, it's all so complex.

So here it is....

The nine-bazillion resumes I have been sending out for the last year, applying for jobs that I was either under or over qualified for, resulted in LANDING ME A NEW JOB!

So exciting. no really - SO EXCITING!!

My place of employment for the last 5 years offered me friendships that I had never had in a work environment and a closeness shared with most that is difficult to put into words.  The word co-worker just doesn't seem appropriate.   This group of amazing individuals watched me start infertility treatments, finish my Bachelor of Science degree, get pregnant, have a miscarriage, decide to become a foster parent,  go through foster parent training, open our home to two beautiful little girls, watch two beautiful little girls become reunified with parents who fooled the system into thinking they were living a clean life.  These people supported me  as I struggled to find my feet after my husband of 8 years decided to end our marriage, watch me move in with my mother, watch me move out of my mom's house, watch me move to an apartment, watch me go on my first- post separation date, watch me fall in love, watch me move again, supported me endlessly when my dad suffered a heart attack and when my Grandpa Joe passed away, watched me meet an amazing man who lived 30 miles away and wanted me to wake up by him each and every day.

And  the thought of not waking up next to him each and every day was simply not an option for me.

I didn't love the commute though.  I didn't have a problem until we went to a 4/10 schedule and then I got tired.  Um, maybe tired isn't the right word.  Exhaustion?  Yeah, that sounds about right.  

Being at work, every morning at 6:30 AM meant that I needed to get up at 4:30 AM, so I could leave at 5:30 to sit in traffic and walk in door at work at 6:30 AM.  I loved having Friday's off, however, I was only half awake on those days. It drove me mad, literally mad.  I became a grump, ugh and pissy.  A pissy grump is not fun to live with, by the way.

All the while, life still is expected to go on; school, girl, scouts, kids, nieces, nephews, holidays, parents, laundry, bills.  We would go to the movies and 10 minutes into the show  I was asleep, snoring, out.  It was the same if I was a passenger in the car.  I slowly started to feel like I was 90 and I would go to sleep on weeknights around 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM.  I not only felt 90 years old, I was living life like I was 90.

So, I decided to make getting a new job my new priority, in a bleak economy.   It's about as fun as it sounds.    And I caught a break, found a Human Resources job at a local community college where my drive includes looking at beautiful farm landscape and three different groups of cows that belong to a handful of dairies.  Surely, not your typical Southern California landscape but for the girl who is a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.  I LOVE IT.


What I miss....

Those amazing people that I worked with, at my last job.  The good news is that I get to see them today at a first birthday for one of their kiddos.  I miss them all - each and every day.

And the answer plagues me, why can't we have it all?  The great friends at work, with the great job, that is close to home.

To: A Fifth Grader

Dear Fifth Grader:

You have probably already forgotten about the mean substitute teacher you had on Friday, however, I will never forget you.

I will never forget your smile, your brightness, your jovial nature, your smartness and yes, I will never forget that when I spent time going over your folder work you got upset with me and told me that you were going to commit suicide.

I will never forget the impact of those words crossing a young child's lips, ever.

Though suicide is not a laughing matter, I hope you were joking. I pray that you were joking.

I will never forget explaining what you said to me to the Principal and her assistant.

I will never forget her picking up the phone to call the district.

I will never forget her calling your mom.

I also know that you and I will never forget that day.

I will always remember you.

With Love from a substitute teacher

The positive stuff

Happily, the grey, dark, looming cloud that chased me from Sunday through yesterday blew through town and I am back to a more happy status.  I am a firm believer in creating good things for ones self and woke up determined to make today - A great day, in fact a really great day.

I hold a lot of value in the power of positive thinking and I firmly believe that the positive energy you project can come back to you in copious amounts.  So, no more negative stuff, I am going to focus on the positive stuff... starrrrrrtttttinnnnng now.

Have you ever gone to one blog and then suddenly an hour later and 9 other blogs you are on a blog that you think might change your life?  Please read THIS - this blogger/author is amazing and not just because she wrote stories about running away with Duran Duran when she was younger but is just a super cool person, blogger, author, mother and total inspiration.

Happy Friday - Fingers crossed for CSET tomorrow.

Kill me now....

Not really, please don't though I am worth more dead than alive.

Ok, now that my George Bailey moment has passed....

******

My week has consisted of the following:

Sunday - Said good-bye to handsome's Wisconsin kiddos, very sad.

Monday  - Sad about kids being gone, holidays over and oh wait, crap  - CSET is this Saturday, and what better time to start cramming than the week of a major test.  It's not like I was doing anything the last 3 weeks.

Tuesday - Said good-by to handsome's 5 year old who lives in Oregon.  Did you hear that sound?  Yeah - it was the rest of my heart breaking.

Wednesday - Call the IRS to let them know that while I would love to pay them, I simply can't because there is a great Tory Burch handbag at Nordstrom's waiting for me.    I did have a lovely chat with my friends at the Internal Revenue Service to let them know that no- I didn't forget about our repayment agreement and moolah is on the way.  They weren't happy with my "better late than never" attitude.

Also discovered that we did not win a stinkin dime in our office lottery pool.  Crap.

Wednesday evening, my co leaders for the girl scout troop I run, both quit.  I saw it coming but it still wasn't fun.  I don't like break-ups.

Today - woke up feeling like I might die, or I just may have the flu or well maybe I am just really freaking wiped out from life.  Who knows.  

The rest of the week should be a breeze- right?

Ch-Ch-Ch- Changes

I love blogger but the backgrounds are so blech..... and I am not talented/smart enough to do the whole custom background thing.

I have a mad case of the Sunday blues and I think I have been awake for about 15 minutes, this is not a good sign.  I hate my job.

Wait

No - I don't HATE my job, I HATE the commute, I love the people I work with and I am burned out on the work I am doing.   I also do not like looking for new jobs and feeling like I have to put on that face - you know the " I am fab, you know you love me - dah-ling" hire-me face.  Also, I am getting old and I don't like change.  Ok, I know I sound cantankerous but that is just how I feel today.

Handsome's kids return to Wisconsin and it makes me sad, we will have the five year old for a few more days and then he goes home to Oregon.   The loss is unbearable to think about, we will not see them until summer unless we fly to go see them which may or may not happen.  Phone calls and letters will take place - but you know it's not the same and especially with as quick as how kids grow.

We still have our holiday decorations up and I refuse to take them down while we have kiddos in the home.  

It can all wait.

*************

Last summer I read this book, Ex-etiquette for parents.  It was amazing, life- changing and why, yes - I did want to mail a copy to handsome's baby mama's.  I've also been on the bonus families website, the author's site for the book and an amazing resource.  Topics covered are all things that we have been experiencing so it was like finding gold when I found the book at the library and finding the website was another complete a-ha moment.

I was able to talk to a counselor the site has to offer who wants to put me in touch with the book's author(s) who handle mediation in Northern California and finally feel like we might be able to get somewhere in helping to create a better relationship for handsome, me and his kids.

We will see what happens.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2011

So the short story thing blew up in my face - BIGTIME.  It was therapeutic while we were planning my Grandpa's funeral and party.  I am *hoping* to get  into the Grandpa story further, as time permits.  Oh, time - that's a funny word.   

************

Goals for 2011

Pass the CSET - I take subtest II (again) on January 8th, one week from yesterday.  

Get a teaching job or really any job closer to home.  The 10 hour work day + 2 hour commute is KILLING me slowly. 

Pay off the IRS, yes for the first time in my life I owe the IRS and it SUCKS ( thank you rat bastard, ex husband for this one)

Get back into running. 

Tackle the "Baking with Julia" book handsome gave me last Christmas that will surely include time with my new KitchenAid stand mixer handsome gave me this Christmas.

Blog/write daily and facebook less.

************

There you have it.  It's in writing so I am sure to follow thru on this  :-).

Continuation of B&T

SO FAR BEHIND..... Urghhh.  The goal was to complete 1600 words a day, that is so not happening.  I have a writers workshop from 9- Noon today and going with high hopes, high hopes I tell you.

*****
More about Theresa and Joe in a minute, first, I need to talk about the Mil-dude ranch.

I love this photo, my Great uncle Jack is riding on the mule backwards and my Grandfather, ever the optimist is coaxing the mule to move toward him.  This photo is taken at the mil-dude ranch, I am not sure who came up with the name but the two boys lived there with their mom, Alice.  The ranch is located less than a mile from the cemetery where my Grandpa is buried so his life has really come full circle here in California.   This was a place of great adventure for them both, my grandfather would often speak about all the animals and fun times they came across.  I love the contrast shown between the tree falling forward and my Grandpa Joe leaning back.

Jack McGee is two years older than Joe, lives in Del Mar and I really don't know him because he and my Grandfather had a huge falling out or as we like to call it  a case of  Irish Amnesia, where you forget everything but the grudge your holding against the other person.  I have only met him once, briefly, and was hoping to see him at the funeral.  I was both saddened and heartbroken to learn that he was so upset with my Grandfather's passing that he simply couldn't attend the services.  

Joe has completed a tour of duty with the Sea bees, he is not really interested in going to college so when he meets a young Theresa Lemire, he is happy to start creating a life with her.  These two young Catholic lovebirds marry shortly after learning she is pregnant. 

 This is the only photo I have ever seen of them together and oddly enough they might as well be two characters in a movie.  The few times I have seen them together can be counted on one hand and I can safely say that they were never this happy when I saw them together and the events were pretty joyous occasions - weddings, including my own.  

They started their life in Lemon Grove, a San Diego suburb.  I don't know much about their life at this time except that they are starting to build their family.  My dad recalls visiting Mercy hospital numerous times for the births of his siblings and how his dad would treat them to a special roast beef sandwich from a shop in the Hillcrest area located adjacently to the hospital, after each visit.

My dad is number two in the lineup of ten kids and like most of us, he has specific and few memories of his childhood.  He recalls how his Grandmother Alice (his Dad's mom) would bring over piles of new clothes for the four boys and nothing ever seemed to fit anyone, you either got clothes that were too big or too small, this is evidenced in the photos taken during that time.  

Kathleen is born, the first girl, and they move from San Diego to LA, what is now known as the Watts area.  When they moved to Los Angeles, the Watts area was a typical working middle class neighborhood filled with kids riding bikes to the store on the corner and an all feeling of a tight knit community.  The McGee boys, who attended Catholic school at St. Anselm lived close by and were on the constant rotation of the altar boy schedule.   The church was happy to have four willing and easily guilted souls within their firm grip.

Black and Tan

First - I have no *logical* business doing this however..... I am going to do THIS. I might be crazy, there is a really good possibility. My main goal, is to get back to writing daily. If I can get back to writing half way decent, daily - I will be thrilled. So here it goes.... I am already behind, gotta love it.

***

Also - it's going to be HEAVY on the Grandpa Joe, as he just passed away and funeral is this Saturday. I think I am writing more for therapeutic purposes, luckily, my family (combined with my imagination) gives me/inspires a wealth of material to write about.

***


Black and Tan


He is a young boy from Dubois, Pennsylvania and the picture I hold in my hand shows him holding a cat in his. The backdrop is a standard 1930’s neighborhood and he looks somewhere between seven and ten years old. His small, pale, peach tinted hands so similar to my own that even though it’s a black and white photo I can still see the similarities in our skin tone.


His parents met in front of the Met life building in New York City, both were children of Irish immigrants and his mom had red hair, just like mine. I would be the only red head in the family for thirty eight years until my newest niece was born seven months ago and to our surprise and my profound delight it looks there will be another member of the red head club inside the McGee clan. I can feel the pride he felt when he noticed my red hair every time I look at my niece and see the reddish fuzz growing atop her head. Only time will tell if it will continue into long red hair that she will hate as a child and adore as an adult.


His dad, John, was a snake charmer and wild man constantly pushing the envelope. Though I have never seen any photos, I can imagine what he looks like. In my mind he is one of those buff, handsome, dark haired, pale skinned, 1920’s boxer type guys like Russell Crow in Cinderella man. Isn’t the imagination a wonderful thing? I know this can’t possibly be true from looking at the build of my Grandfather and his brother Jack, both with the same frame of a string bean. My father, most uncles and my brother would have this same exact build until their thirties. I imagine my nephew will have this same body shape as well but at age seven he walks with the bravado of John Wayne as only the big brother of two little sisters would, always keeping an eye on them, making sure they are safe. Ahh, family loyalty, you won’t find a group of people more loyal to their family than this crazy bunch, almost to a default and more loyal than a dog.


I am sure Great – Grandpa John was loyal as well, that’s the great thing with no documentation of our past. If there is an unknown, we can simply make it up. Surely, Alice, his wife had a list of likes and dislikes a mile long. Don’t all women? We know she didn’t cook well from the stories my dad tells. Her signature dish was boiled ground beef. John died from a snake bite so apparently he hadn’t built up a complete resistance. I heard the snake story when I was a teenager and too this day I get a major case of the creeps when I see a snake on TV or a picture of one. To see one in real life makes me want to run in the opposite direction.


So Alice packed up her two sons, Jack and his younger brother Joe placed them and their belongings in the car and headed west. For months, during a harsh winter, they lived in an abandon warehouse that was in close proximity of a farm. The brothers McGee were good for the most part and enjoyed sneaking through Mr. and Mrs. Clinton’s property. Sunday was their favorite day to visit the farm. The smell of fresh, baked bread wafted out of the kitchen window teasing and tormenting the brother’s noses. The fact that she baked two loaves helped the ethical dilemma, in their minds when they only took one of the loaves. They ate that bread for the rest of the week and the smell of fresh baked bread was always one of Grandpa’s favorite smells.


While Alice worked and the boys attended a local school, she was able to save up enough money to pack up the boys and belongings to head further west to sunny San Diego. They arrived in a San Diego suburb named Lemon Grove, and attended schools in the area. Jack, at some point, moved to the Del Mar area and Joe went into the United States Navy as a Seabee. Upon his return from duty, he met and fell in love with Theresa Lemere a transplant from Duluth, Minnesota.


Theresa had sharp cheekbones, beautiful soft eyes and a smile that would light up a room. She moved from Duluth to San Diego at a time when a doctor prescribed a warmer climate as part of a diagnosis for any popular ailment at the time. Opposite of Joe, she came from a large family and relished in taking care of her younger brothers and sisters. Though she found advances for women exciting, she knew in her heart that she was always meant to be a mom of many children. Little did she know, she would give birth to ten children and raise several grandchildren.

***  

Rosh Hashanah

Happy New Year!

Or.... it's Rosh Hashanah so happy Jewish New Year (at Sundown)!

Handsome is Jewish, I am a Catholic contemplating conversion to Judaism so learning about the high holidays is exceptionally intriguing to me.  One of the things I love most about Judaism is the openness they celebrate their holidays with.  Though it's a Jewish holiday, the focus is on not just people of that faith but people all around the world to make our lives more fulfilling, happier and more productive.

While there is a sense of renewal about celebrating any New Year- it's that promise of a new beginning and the hope that the change you hope to see in the world or yourself becomes the light of your focus.... at least for one day. 

There is a great article here that speaks about Rosh Hashanah in a much more articulate and educated manner.

Quick Update

Are you still waiting around for Part II of DC, are you still reading? Anyone, Anyone, Bueller?

This blog is on the brink of not making the cut, sadly.  I think about the time I spend on Facebook and it saddens me.  I don't write as much as I would like to - either in a real journal or blog due to time restraints.  So - here is a quick update.

Made it through my Dad's 60th Birthday and successfully completed a slide show....with music.  Sadly, I balled the entire way through the speech at the party (not my finest moment) and thankfully my articulate Uncle was able to do damage control.

Missed the 20th year high school reunion... Alan was out of town and like it or not... I am still a fragile flower.  

Still have not passed the CSET (next test date 09/11)

Job is killing me....now working a 4/10 schedule and it BITES

Alan and I recently celebrated our 10 month anniversary- Seriously, that's almost a year?  

I am a girl scout leader for a troop in our community and LOVE IT!

Subbing for three districts now- YAY

So, here's hoping that I can make it through DC- Part II and actually post more pix, because honestly, that was the best part of the trip.  Ok, there's your hook.  Keep checking on me because I might just get this blog back on track....might.

Ms. McGee goes to DC- Part One

Last February, handsome and I were discussing Washington DC and how we both always wanted to visit, the rich historical factor that we were both completely drawn to, the museums, the White House and everything in between. A few minutes later he looked up from his computer and said "Could you get a few days off in June"? I said, sure. He then turned and looked at me and said - Great, because we are going to Washington DC!!! Um...., Ok...., well...., wait.... this is just something that I cannot even begin to afford to do. He had already purchased the smoking hot deal on the airfare and got us really inexpensive hotel rooms for the four nights we would be there.... and we didn't have to stay at the Holiday Inn Express either.

Travel can bring two people together in a very close way while being the ultimate test to a relationship. We were booked to fly out of LAX and was thanking God that the flight was delayed because we flew from Murrieta to LA and then flew from the long term parking lot to the check-in counter to which we ran threw security where I think they are now hiring people who maybe look 13 years old. We actually got to use the restroom before I jaunted to the departure gate got on the plane and was.so. exhausted. I mean, eyelids heavier than a pallet of bricks and yet so tired that I was wired. Has that ever happened to you. I think it would be a fair assessment to say that I napped.

One of my favorite parts of flying is the take off and the landing and though I was WIDE AWAKE for the landing, I started to fade into oblivion very shortly after we walked to the airport shuttle counter and next remember Handsome nudging my shoulder and saying wake up, sweetie we are at the hotel. I swear, I think, no- I know I must have looked like I was on something or multiple things but really I was just ready to roll into bed and take a nine hour nap. We both slept for about 2 hours and then WOKE UP- WIDE AWAKE again. Folks, it was like that for 5 days - completely exhausted or WIDE AWAKE.

So our first day we went to the Kennedy Center and WOW, loved it in so many ways that I cannot even begin to tell you about all of the decor except everything in the place is a gift from another country. The chandelier in one room is from Ireland and it was just amazing. The best part was that we had an amazing tour guide to which we basically set the bar for all other tour guides to whom NONE could come close to filling her shoes. The gift store was reasonably priced with some of the most unique gifts imaginable.

Loved that cute bag and was so proud of myself that I didn't purchase it... my family nickname is "the bag lady". Ok, it's one of my nicknames. So, we were floored, got to see where POTUS + family sits during "Kennedy Center Presents" and attending performances, got super weepy when we walked outside and looked at the proximity of the Pentagon to where we were standing and how close to the White House is and 9/11 and ok, breathe, breathe, breathe. Very sad though.

Long story short- my Grandfather used to own a political memorabilia museum which is a nice way of saying he was a total HOARDER of political crap and by crap I mean probably 75% was some pretty odd stuff but there was some really cool stuff though (another post completely). In this museum, there was a huge bust of JFK and when my eyes came across this one at the center I was near tears realizing my Grandpa had never been to the Kennedy center, how much I love him, how much he loved JKF and anything Kennedy related... etc. The bust has a rough unfinished look to reflect his presidency which was considered unfinished (as our tour guide so eloquently put it). Yep, she pretty much had us both on the verge of tears the entire time with these pearls of wisdom and eloquence.

Day II

We hit the ground running, lots do to - The Capital (sat in both Congress and Senate chambers), Library of congress, Supreme Court, took a nap, walked from hotel to Legal Seafood, walked to the White House and then walked to The W.

The Capital was......air-conditioned. I have to say it was neat but the thing I remember most was the humidity that managed to SUCK THE LIFE out of us and after walking a very short distance we were completely deflated. I was trying to find gratitude and reminded myself that it could be worse - we could be visiting in February and have snow up to our ankles but it was just bloody humid and miserable. So, we went through the Capital tour which sucked monkey butt. The tour guide had a difficult time finding *anything* to be excited about and I can see that giving the same tour every day might be a little monotonous... but this was our first time and she made us want to poke our eyeballs out with our tour issued headphone set.

Just one of the many ornate hallways and the history is amazing and if some of those walls could talk.

After the Capital, we did everything we could to avoid going outside including going to the souvenir shops, eating lunch, used the restroom and happily came across a hallway that led us to The Library of Congress. LIC was not on our tour list and we had a few hours to kill before our scheduled visit to the Supreme Court so we joined a tour that had just started by Awesome tour guide #2 and came real close to beating out the amazing tour guide at the Kennedy Center.

everyone's must see list when going to DC. One can very easily get a library card for a daily use, check out any book and use the research room however you can't go wandering through the books - you have the book brought to you.

It was at the Library of Congress where we learned about the congressional page system which is now open to both boys and girls who are Junior's in high school. They come to DC, work for a member of Congress and complete their studies in between sessions. How freaking cool is that???? I would love to do that- sadly the 16 year old Kara would have not even considered the page experience....unless it involved Duran Duran.

Happy Kara at the Library of Congress.

And as I walked through being inspired left and right by the magnificent art, architecture, the neatly organized stacks of books and beautiful inscriptions everywhere - including the ceiling and as if it was sent from Heaven above... a sign, an affirmation that yes, I will pass the math/science portion of the CSET one day a become a member of the Education profession.

To be continued.....

So hip, it hurts

Someone, anyone, please buy this.

We were in Lowe's yesterday when this lovely caught my eye.

Screaming SUMMER IS HERE!!!!!!!

Three

With the kids leaving in three short days, I am squeezing every spare moment out of the day to KEEP.THEM.ENTERTAINED. watching me write or edit photos for my blog is not one of their favorite activities I discovered.

So, attached are three photos that put a smile on my face and remind me about our great DC adventure.

Beautiful, stunning and somewhat phallic monuments -It's in an Austin Powers movie right? 

Handsome and I discovered the most amazing burger place EVER.... We ate there three times in 5 days.  

Sadly, it doesn't matter how much walking you do around DC after you reach a certain age -three burgers in one week=can't fit into my favorite jeans right now.

The History of our great nation.  I LOVE this photo.

Promises, promises

I have been....busy, overwhelmed and over committed.    Life has been filled with - kids (oh, I love em), resume writing (don't like them that much) and work (don't get me started).  Blogging got moved from the backseat and isn't even riding in the car anymore.  

I have LOTS to write about and still want to show pics from recent visits to LA and DC but I just realized that we are one month away from THIS AMAZING EVENT to which I am going to attempt at taking public transportation to so that should be *interesting*.

So, eventually, I will update here *soon* just not sure when.

D.C.

DC was AMAZING!

I am jet-lagged beyond belief and my eyes are stinging so I will limit this post and write later, much later.

The flight was long, bumpy and there was a 2 year old who was *very unhappy* the entire flight. The bitch next to us kept making comments until I told her to zip it..... not really. However, I did say something to the effect of - I know alot of kiddos experience ear pain from the altitude and air pressure which kept her quiet for about 3 minutes. Urghh people.

Anywho, it was a trip of a lifetime and will recount all the details later - when my eyeballs aren't on fire.

Viva Las Vegas

The day after we return from DC, Handsome will fly to go pick up the kids and while we absolutely treasure the small amount of time we get to spend with his fantastic kiddos there is definitely and adjustment period we all go through.

Since our summer will be filled with a lot theme parks and kid related events we decided to take a quick trip to sin city.

This is the living room area of our room at THE Hotel

THE Hotel is adjacent to Mandalay, the colors are very dark

the decor very modern, clean and stunning.

Lady Liberty courtesy of New York, New York

It was a quick visit - one night, two days.

Visiting the newest hotel Aria was a must,

here is the entrance to City Center.

Aria

The front entrance of Aria with beautiful modern water

trickling down a black wall.

From afar it gives the illusion of a grand waterfall.

Every excellent hotel has fresh flowers

Only the Aria has fresh flowers and flowers made of white, milk and dark chocolate

Nicely tiled wall, the line for the buffet

I was mesmerized by this wall, the texture, depth and colors all intriguing.

The light fixtures at the buffet.

You could only imagine what the food looked like - a whole other post

The Gold Lounge

Brass monkeys, how very funky

The newest Cirque show is based at the Aria - A tribute to the King.

While I am not a fan of Elvis, I was drawn to this gift shop

- a mini tribute to Graceland.

From magnets to Elvis and Priscilla Barbie- styled dolls.

Is that not the hottest photo of Elvis ever?

The sorbet shop

The details in this hotel were unbelievable,

there was an open space atop one of the hotel roofs

decorated with these cactus rock beds.

I hit the spa, to take pictures. Love the necklace

The spa lounge/waiting area was decorated with these delicate orchids

I love seeing the use of wood in unique ways, I think they win on this one

These twisted wood supports are such a unique feature, creating an urban forest

I know, I know - it looks like an airport

The gift shop skipped the typical snacks and went total highbrow -

mini, snack sized Dean and Deluca snacks.

While we spent the bulk of our visit at THE Hotel, our room and hotel were so dark that it became a challenge to take any good pictures especially any pictures to do our room justice. It was just so Vegas and over the top - a living room in our hotel room. Two bathrooms in one hotel room - any woman traveling with a man appreciates this feature. Ok, well any woman appreciate this feature.PERIOD.

My Aunt and Uncle from Seattle were in town for business and we were able to meet up for a quick snack before watching a hypnotist show where we were initially selected to be part of the show only to find us deemed - unhynotizable ( like that, I think I just made up that word). The show - absolutely hilarious and very happy to be watching from the audience.

Our quick visit ended with a visit to the Aria hotel, the newest hotel and located at City Center. Stunning interiors, the details were just amazing. The food - wow the food. We decided to go for the buffet which was just amazing - hand rolled sushi, wood fired pizzas, salads placed in little glasses and OH.MY.GOD. THE DESSERTS - WOW. Two of my favorites were the Oreo cookie shooters and snickers ice cream. I could go on, really.

Angels

We went to the Angels game yesterday and had a blast.

The weather was fantastic, it's finally getting warm here - YAY

Our seats were pretty amazing, we were given some free tickets

and welcomed the chance to sit *this close* to the field.

We started off to a rocky start but things turned around

in the 7th inning, resulting in a winning

There's nothing like a bunch of high fives. It was so much fun.

Hard to believe we leave for DC tomorrow, wow - just wow, I am so not ready for this vacation.

I still need to post about LA and Vegas, not sure if it will get done today, lots of prepping to get done and head to my dad's for a BBQ.

*Remember the fallen, remember the Veteran's today and always.*

Bret Michaels

There are few people in life that I find so repulsive that the mere mention of their name causes me to shiver, gag and feel like vomiting. Sadly, BM was the highest- ranking member of this group and then he almost died.

Not being able to take my eyes away from the train wreck that was "Rock of Love" helped further develop of this utter disgust regarding BM. Who could forget the spoof Saturday Night Live did about "Rock of Love" and Amy Poehler, as the slutty, amputee contestant trying to win his heart. If you think it sounds funny, oh are you in for a treat. I searched, tirelessly - well ok, for about 10 minutes on the Internet and couldn't find it. Classic, pure funny and you will pee your pants from laughing - truly a must see.

I still couldn't stand him, but then he appeared on "The Apprentice" and then I began to tolerate him- dare I say, like him? Oh, train wreck with your bandanna, long hair and cowboy hats??? So Jose Eber. TRAIN WRECK.....Absolutely, he was ALL.OVER.THE.MAP. Consistently inconsistent and just a big, freaking -spaz.

Then he almost died and I felt sad (surprisingly, it wasn't about the mean things I said or felt). I am not sure why I felt sad but I did and actually I became concerned for his health and well being. I am gonna blame it on my dad, the whole heart attack, near death experience has humbled me toward men.... I know. Totally weird.

Then I watched him win the season finale and for the love of God - how big of motherflower biotch is Holly Robinson Peete ??? While I wanted her to win because her foundation Hollyrod supports families with children who have Autism I was so relieved and happy that she didn't win because she is just a really big bitch - or at least that is how she was edited to look on the show. I really, honestly hope she is completely different in real life.

Back to BM on the Apprentice finale, he won- I mean HE.WON. The camera panned the audience and focused on an older man wearing a bandanna a la BM and older woman with teased blond hair - his parents. Who looked like their son just gave the commencement speech at Harvard, as valedictorian heading off to Oxford for Graduate school or watching their rock star son win Celebrity Apprentice which might rate as the equivalent....in some alternate universe. Donald Trump hired him, for what- I am unsure of. I think he gets to play celebrity judge next season like Joan Rivers did this season but getting hired by "The Donald" WHOA......

Total street cred... because, being a rock star really isn't enough for me especially with such winning lyrics about roses and thorns.

Tonight I watched BM sing on American Idol and wear a Bob Marley shirt and all I could think of was ROCK ON!!! and wonder when is "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" going to end.

The family photo

This is the largest gathering of McGee's for the year 2010 and probably one of the last photos that will include both my Grandma and Grandpa as both are struggling with their health.

There is so much that I love about this photo -

The way my Grandma is holding the gardenia that my Aunt Kathleen picked for her, up to her nose with a serious expression on her face.

The crazy tie-dye sweatshirt my Aunt Patty is wearing.

My Aunt Mary's beautiful, bright smile and her very sweet nautical themed shirt.

How relaxed my heart-attack having dad looks leaning up against the wall on the far right.

My cousin Garrett wrapped up in a towel after jumping in the pool with my cousin Patrick- I think it might have been a whopping 65 degrees - which is mild winter-esque conditions in Southern California.

My brother trying to look hip with his shades on and how my hand is resting on his shoulder - I have know recollection of doing that, however I love that it happened.

The sweet, innocent gaze of my niece Ella - she is mesmerized with my dad, her Papa.

My Grandpa though he is gritting his teeth with the insurmountable amount of pain, he was able to stand for this entire photo shoot. His body is frail and weak however is mind and tongue are both quick and sharp.

Handsome's smile and flexibility - he is amazing.

I love looking at this family photo, it brings me an amount of happiness that is hard to put into words and makes me miss the other family members (not pictured) - like crazy.