Blogging Away

Hello. I am back in AZ after a few days in Las Vegas. Don’t get too excited — it was work. It really was. I will spare you the work details about designing a comp structure and how to best incent your employees through through metrics. I want to talk about me in this blog, and how I have become old. Yes, old.

OK, I am not saying I need a wheel chair or a walker or anything (at least not again at this point), but I have begun to feel my age. I was fairly stoked about going to “Sin City.” I hadn’t been in at least 4 years. I thought, “I will go and learn, but then drink and smoke and gamble and dance until they kick me out” — I was wrong. Sure, I enjoyed a few cocktails as I socialized at the bar, and I gambled all of $50 on this trip. I even went to a bonafide grade A club…which was just a good as a shitty bar where I could have gotten cheaper drinks ($15 for a rum and coke). I would go back to my room each night and would be exhausted. I just can’t hang like that anymore. Don’t get me wrong…I can live it up with the best of them. I will “shot” drink you under the table…as many of you have seen. However, I can’t do “that” scene anymore. I can’t party like some of these 20-25 year olds do. I saw a girl shotgun 4 beers in a row. Big ones. I watched her for a while and it seemed as if there was nothing phasing her. As I walked back to my hotel one night, I passed a group of people (average age approximately 22) and this was the synopsis of the conversation they had:

(11:30PM)

Girl 1 - “My feet hurt, can we sit…puh-leese?”
Girl 2 - “We have only gone to 5 clubs so far…we have to hit double digits!!! We are in VEGAS!!! Whoo hoo!”
Girl 3 - (drinking from a flask) “Who has the room key…I want to stop and get condoms. I have to go out and get laid!”
Girl 2 - “Just pick some up in the next gift shop….it’s not like you won’t use those later “
Girl 1 - “Maybe I just need another shot….let’s go!”

I remember when I used to be able to drink all night, every night, with no real problem. Now, I know that there were problems…hangovers, life in disarray, etc. But I honestly didn’t realize until I was in the city of Sin that I no longer could do that. I was overwhelmed and nursed my rum and coke. When did I outgrow that? When? Now, I am not really wanting to go back to that. I love where I am now….but when??? Just a little wistful as I walked down drunken memory lane.

Age is something that doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese.

Just a short one today, since I have to get back to screening resumes…

I went and saw Bon Jovi on Friday and I must say that the concert was excellent. 23 songs….and all the giddy 40yr olds you could handle. Biggest surpise? Richie Sambora. Now, I never understood the appeal of that guy. Locklear, Anderson, Richards…they all felt the pull to the Sambora…but not Erin Kate. Not until Friday, when I fell a little in love. He gets up and sings “I’ll be there for you” with only his guitar and earnest voice. Just a spotlight, me, and Richie. I have a new crush. Sigh.

Great show. Stupid Jerome trip (which is odd for me). That was my weekend. That and my AC not working. Damn you 96 degree house!

Sometimes I am just brilliant…I mean really brilliant. I have been trying to solve a problem at work and it has been more difficult than we imagined it would be initially. I solved it today. Go me. I rock the house!

I love politics…I really do, but lately…I don’t know…I am just pissed off. I have two candidates whom I like, but since I have chosen my favorite to be the one that is “losing” all I am getting from people is, “how dare you not fall in line” and “don’t you know who she is?”. How insulting. I mean, HOW INSULTING. I do know who she is…as I do the other candidates. I have watched television and, God forbid, read about them and then I came to my own conclusion. My party has two incredibly viable candidates. I have chosen to support my party and their candidate, but until the Convention, I will follow my top candidate until the end, which is apparently pretty bitter. Do I think she has a chance. Yes. I really do. If she doesn’t win the nomination, will I be disappointed? Yes, but I will support the new candidate. The idea of change is what is driving my party right now, but the very people I know to be part of this “Progressive” movement are resenting it, and, her to a degree. It is an election. An exciting one. I find it ridiculous that I get criticized for not being a “team player” — bite me. At least I know enough to know that this is a political “process” and not a crowning. Get over it.

So, it seems as if it has been forever since I have blogged. Really. Forever. So, I thought I would do a mega blog with some pictures about the past few weeks of my life (which, have been chaotic as always).

I went to San Francisco about a week and a half ago for some much-needed rest and recuperation. I feel as if I have been burning the candle at both ends lately. I also feel like some things have been out of my control or reach as of recently, so I wanted to find that balance of control and being controlled for a while. San Francisco helped. Now, some of you may know that I HATE California. I always have. I feel like it there is “too” much for one person. I don’t like the mentality that most of the Californians I know have; like CA is their own country and we should be so lucky to be part of it. Now, faithful readers, I don’t hate all Californians, but they do get lumped together. It takes an act of nature to get me out there…this time that act took 7 years to get me back to the Bay Area. The draw was intense. I have a very select group of friends that I would do ANYTHING for. I believe it gets smaller every year as I age and people lose their core. NoCal has two of those people whom still fall into the ‘anything’ category. I had been promising for years to get up there, and now seemed like the ideal time,  since one just went through a really bad break up with his longtime girlfriend, and the other just had a baby with his wife. Now, I won’t go through all the details of the trip, but I will say that these people remind me on a daily basis that you should never quit your dreams. I know, what a cliche. But I needed to see someone live the optimism that they preach. I am surrounded by inaction and those who decide to let go of their nature. I forget that there are others out there who are truly immersed and living what they truly want. I miss that optimism. I really do. I miss it within myself at times. It was nice to reconnect and rejuvenate. If I have to thank California for that, I begrudgingly will…even though someone stole my debit card number in Sausalito. Bastards.

In other news, the new Counting Crows album came out last Tuesday. Adam and the boys never fail to disappoint me - and this is no exception. The lyrics are haunting but different from every album they have ever released. I can’t really describe at this point where I stand on it….obviously, I love it, but I am trying to figure out the place in which it fits. I really do think it to be incredible. I really do. Also, they have announced their summer tour schedule and they are playing in Arizona two days after I get back from Costa Rica…so, obviously, I am going (PS…Maroon 5 and Augustana are going to be playing there as well). My excitement abounds!

April’s schedule will bring the following:
- Bon Jovi concert
- Jerome overnight trip
- Vegas
- Inevitable trip to Utah

My Mom was at the White House this weekend for her High School Reunion with the Bush clan. I will post pics as soon as she figures out how to send them to me (this could take a year for Linda)

The Beccanator had her 8th birthday — that made me feel my age — a lot. One of her presents was Monopoly Jr - Disney edition…I knew ton of the tweeners on the cover. None. Age, how funny!

That may be it for now….

here are some pics of recent trips. enjoy!