Summer Inspiration

This blog entry is a reminder to take the plunge..!
... like these splashy dogs in the lake behind my apartment.

I'm a bit inspired this week! You know why? I took a terrific two-day seminar which put some pep in my teacherly step, so I'm ready to head back to work in two weeks to try out some new ideas.

Here's a fact that caught my attention: the brain-- at any age-- continuously craves novel experiences and new information, through a variety of senses, to grow and be happy.

This got me thinking about how often we let the demands of daily life pre-empt opportunities for happiness. Sure, we're challenged with steep learning curves: Find the best treatment for an ill child. Juggle tight finances to make ends meet. Move to a new city. Navigate a career change, the end of a relationship or other loss. (Sound familiar?) But all too often, we neglect to invest our attention and energy in positive learning experiences that make us happy.

So, this is a reminder to do something novel and interesting for YOURSELF. TODAY. NOW.

Book a massage. Doodle your dog. Sniff some flowers. Visit a new town. Call an old friend. Take a class. Vow to do something a little out of your comfort zone-- and do it.

I like this quote by Gabrielle Reese, model/volleyball player, from her Yahoo! blog:

"Surround yourself with positive people and information. Keep reading. I don't care if it's a chapter a night. Give your brain new and stimulating information. Stop dwelling on thoughts that won't help you. As for the rest, clear it out. It's gone."

Gamblin' Girls' Night Out

You've got to understand: I never win anything. Games, lottery, prizes, raffles? Nope. Apparently, I'm just a gamblin' failure!

So, imagine my surprise when I won a spot at a local radio station's "Gamblin' Girls' Night Out" at a chic roof-top restaurant! In addition to free chips (remember: gambling in Georgia is illegal) to play at blackjack, Texas Hold 'Em and craps, they were raffling off Jimmy Choo shoes, massage gift certificates and free vacations to luxury resorts. I grabbed my friend Kim, kissed my man for luck and away we went for free drinks and a fun girls' night out.

We had a great time! Kim sat next to me at the blackjack table and did a great job of picking up how to play. She even cheered me on as I won hand after hand. I figured my luck was a changin' until... well, I began losing! Unfortunately, when it comes to money, I have always been karmically balanced. No great windfalls, but no great losses, either. I suppose it could be either a blessing or curse depending on how you look at it.

So, I folded and wandered over to watch other games (Gads! Just HOW do you play craps anyway!?), munch sushi, sip wine, hang with Kim and gaze at the full moon. Mara Davis and Sully, the Dave FM radio personalities, chatted us up as well.

So, who do you think won the raffle prizes at the end of the night? NOT ME!!!!

Here is a shot of my LOSING tickets. Good to know my karma is intact. Geez.

Vegas, Baby!!!

Love this photo of Brad and I enjoying ourselves in downtown Vegas!

Whew! Ok, so I haven't written sooner because I have been busy moving into my new apartment. AND ripping the sideview mirror off my new car. No, really! I am NOT spacially-challenged; the damn pole in the garage jumped out at my car as I was backing up, I SWEAR!

The new digs are great, just smaller, so I'm having to downsize my stuff. There's a pretty tree just outside my patio, and I can hear nature instead of cars for a change. Birds sing by day, and crickets chirp away at night... and my upstairs neighbors play their rap music all day long. SIGH. I'm working on getting them evicted (evil laugh!). In the meantime, there's a terrific park out back with walking trails, woods, a lake and splashy dogs that love to play fetch in the evening. Oh! And my honey lives just down the hall upstairs from me!

We had a blast in Las Vegas! We did so much in 8 days and STILL didn't do it all. Just to clarify: We did NOT get married!! We stayed with his folks the first night and then at various hotels thereafter including Stratosphere, Rio, New York New York and the MGM. The summer heat was INTENSE! Like I have never, ever experienced before! It was like walking around in a 100 degree dry sauna for hours. Somebody I know (not naming names... BRAD) got very sick from heat exhaustion and found that PowerAid was his new best friend. Here's a sampling of some of the fun stuff we did:

We rode first class on Delta out to Vegas (Bliss!!)

We gambled and drank $1 frozen margaritas! :-)

We went to the Wax Museum. I got Nicolas Cage. Brad got Cameron Diaz!

We went up the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel to see Vegas at night.

We flew over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon in a 15 seater prop airplane. We walked on the Skywalk, an all-glass, U-shaped walkway which hangs out over the lip of the Grand Canyon!

Go West, young man!

We got free passes to a so-called 'ultra-pool' where chair rentals start at $100 (we opted to sit on our towels). Think: MTV pool party. We spent the whole day in the pool, drinking delicious frozen mojitos served by scantily-clad waitresses and gorgeous pool boys, dancing to amazing music spun by a live DJ and watching all the beautiful people enjoy themselves.

We also saw the Freemont Experience light show downtown, rode a very fast roller coaster, gorged ourselves at all the buffets (yay, snow crab legs and prime rib!!!), got an aqua massage in one of those freaky machines, walked some of the Miracle Mile, went clubbing, toured all the hotels to see their various attractions (The Venetian: canals and gondolas, Wynn: waterfalls, the Palazio: spiral escalator, Cesar's Palace: Roman-themed high-end shopping, and of course, The Bellagio for its arboretum and amazing fountain show.) Oddly, we didn't get to see one show, although all of the Cirque du Soleil performances looked fantastic (and the burlesque ones would have been a hoot to see!) Next time around, we'll do all that... and maybe a helicopter ride! And visit the lil' chapels of love! And and jet-ski on the Colorado...And...!