Birthday Weekend Festivities

Start:	Apr 20, '07
End:	Apr 23, '07

Wrangler's Hockey Game

Start:	Mar 31, '07 7:00p
Location:	Orleans Arena

Wrangler's Hockey Game

Start:	Mar 30, '07 7:00p
Location:	Orleans Arena

Dave Matthews

Start:	Mar 24, '07 8:00p
Location:	MGM Grand

Political Brush

On my flight back from DC last night (3/23), I sat one row behind Dennis Kucinich.  I recognized him immediately, but the tall leggy red head he was with was throwing me off.  Didn't look the kind of lady a presidential hopeful would be hanging out with.  Did however look like someone on the way to Vegas would hang out with.  I later found out (i.e. had email from a friend when I landed) that this was his wife...

 

As we walked on the jet way, I reached out my hand to him.  I wanted to ask him his view on Global Warming and the current state of environmental affairs.  I wanted to ask him his thoughts on the Iraq situation and the 'War on Terror'.  I wanted to ask him if he really thought announcing his plan to run for president (as a dem) again in '08 made sense.. but all I said was "Jodi Gersh, Pleasure to meet you Mr. Kucinich."

 

The ironic thing I guess was I was holding a bag with an Obama in '08 T-shirt in it...

Lord Stanley's Cup

Finally, after missing it the last two times it came to our building, on a coincidental business trip to DC, I got to see/touch it. For anyone who might wonder, sometimes it comes to USA TODAY (where I work) to the Sports section... a crowd always gathers...

Probably most of you know I am a bit of a hockey fan. Well over the last few years, Lord Stanley's Cup has visited my DC office and each time I have, for some uncool reason, not been around.

Now I no longer work in the DC office and have moved to Las Vegas, and this week's DC business trip was definitely NOT fun- BUT it ended up turning around in a heart beat when I received the best email ever on my cell phone- it said only "The Stanley Cup is on the 2nd floor- Sports Section".

I was in DC for a week long conference and a huge migration (purposely coordinated to overlap to make my week a slight hell). I jumped out of my seat (in the middle of a sales presentation) and told the coordinator there was an emergency, and that I would be right back.

I was actually shaking, getting a little sweaty, giddy like a school girl. I jumped in the elevator, got out on the 2nd floor and there was the crowd.

I didn't have my camera with me, so next I called our Art Director and I said "Casey- I have an emergency. The Stanley Cup is here on 2, and I have no camera." He got a hold of the deputy photo editor and they raced over. They all know how important the Stanley Cup is to me. When I left the DC office last year, they made a spoof USA WEEKEND Cover for me, where I am on the cover with Sidney Crosby of the Penquins...

I didn't want to leave the cup. I knew I had to get back to the meeting, but I also knew I most likely would never touch or see the cup in person again....

Anyway I am sitting at the airport after a ridiculous week of running around and stressing... and I am finally getting some time to look at the pictures and relive that incredible moment.

Hiking at Red Rock, 2/07 and 3/07

First set of photos from February hike. We saw big horn sheep this time. very cool. Second set from March with Las Vegas Hiking Club.

Give a book!

http://www.seussville.com/CITH_50th/index.php?page=ecard
The folks at First Book have partnered with Random House and the widow of Dr. Seuss to give away books to needy kids in honor of the Cat in the Hat's 50th birthday.

All you have to do is go to their site, send an electronic birthday card to the Cat and, presto, a needy kid gets a free book. It takes two seconds.

Starbucks Big Brother

I go to Starbucks.  It's not an addiction.  Not to caffeine anyway (most of the time I order decaf).  I like the familiarity of it.  Like any city, any country I am in, my decaf non-fat latte is gonna be there for me.

But that is not what this blog post (rambling) is about.  Sometimes I get a little delusional.  Not in a bad way (I think).  It makes the day more fun when you let your mind wander and think silly thoughts.

Anyway, recently I was at a Starbucks early one morning.  It wasn't my usual Starbucks, which might be what started the whole delusion.  I was at the Starbucks on Paradise, at Harmon (across the street from the Hard Rock Hotel as a point of reference for you that do not live in LV).  I was trying to remember if I had any money left on my favorite Starbucks card (I have 3 cards, but this one is special to me b/c it was a gift and it's registered at starbucks.com - I've been adding money to it for over a year now).  I gave the card to the lady and after hearing the $0 balance, I added $40 to it.  I then got my latte and my day went on.

Now here is where the delusion (or whatever you want to call it- rambling of my mind, whatever) begins.  Later that day, on my way home from hiking at Red Rock, I stopped at the Starbucks drive-thru at Charleston.  I was in the mood for sweets, so I got a grande no-whip java chip light frappacino.  So yummy. 

Later that evening, on my way to a hockey game at the Orleans, I was very sleepy.  So we stopped at another Starbucks drive thru and I ordered an iced grande non-fat caramel macchiato.

Here's the delusion.  At some point during the day, I decided that the people at Starbucks know me.  I don't mean at the store.  I mean at STARBUCKS.  Like, when I added the $40 to my registered card, they (you know, Starbucks Big Brother) were like "oh- she already blew through that $50 from a couple weeks ago and she's adding more money again... and what the heck is she doing over at the Paradise Starbucks?  She's never been to that one before."

Then, in the afternoon, "wow- a two visit day.  and a frappacino too- must be off her diet."

Then in the evening, "Call the Starbucks patrol, we got a live one.. a three visit day, all different drinks...".

Is that weird?

Hiking Red Rock

Start:	Mar 4, '07 7:00p
Location:	Red Rock Canyon

Willow Springs/White Rock Loop