On with the show...

I thought I would be posting a lot more frequently, but do to the business with work and my social life lately, I've been away a lot longer than I'd like.

A few highlights of the past couple weeks: opening the Las Vegas Springs Preserve - a client of my team, that received excellent feedback from the community and media, working the amazing VEGAS Magazine annual party, and lots and lots of free tickets to shows.

The VEGAS Magazine party was something unreal.. It was on a Saturday night at Mandalay Beach (a pool area but with sand bordering it at Mandalay Bay), and I must admit it was insane. They had a dj and Katherin McPhee perform on this stage over the water, people of every sort running around for free drinks and food, people getting to paint graffitti on a wall, motorcyclists driving around in this sphere cage, go go dancers all over the place, and over 3000 invited guests. The newbies and I worked check-in so checking names and putting wrist bands on those 3000 people took up most of the 4 hours we were working, but we got to go in for the last hour. Once we left at 1, we all decided to go out to Tangerine which is a club that's also a client of our company's so we got into VIP free with no problems with the help of a coworker. It ended up being a true "Vegas night" where we stayed out dancing until the sun was coming up over the mountains. I hadn't done that in a long time, but it was so much fun to get to know the girls I'm working with and meet new friends.

This last week the American Theatre Critics were in town for a convention so of course - all of the shows that we do PR for wanted to fill their audiences to show how well they're doing. This equaled free tickets to Stomp Out Loud on Monday, Blue Man Group on Tuesday, and Phantom of the Opera on Thursday. I had seen BMG and Phantom before, but Stomp Out Loud was seriously amazing. I had an idea of what I was getting based on clips I'd seen from the Stomp tour but this was so much different and seriously insanely creative. BMG, I of course love because they are a client I get to work on, and going with my coworker and friend, Tiffany, was a lot of fun b/c she hadn't seen it and laughed the whole way through. Phantom was amazing b/c we were in the second row.. The Venetian just really did that show right - the theater is impeccable.

I was supposed to see Ragtime tonight with my roommate, but she took off for a last minute vaca to Phoenix, and I was ready for a night off. Tomorrow I think I am going to a show at Golden Nugget with my friends Ashley and Matt. It's non-stop out here right now, and I guess that's a good thing :)

Last night I went to the Rock 'n Roll Wine event with Rusty. I was supposed to interview with them for a job back in March, but by the time they were ready to set it up, I had already gotten my job offer from Kirvin Doak. I met one of the partners last weekend at the VEGAS mag party, introduced myself since I had only spoken with him on the phone/via email, and he asked me to come as his guest. If there's one thing my dad taught me - it's to always keep your contacts in check - so I, of course, went and had a decent time.

My boss had her last day on Thursday b/c she will be gone for three months for her maternity leave. This is going to be interesting, but I'm definitely hoping to rise to the occassion. I have an account that is my own now - Nevada Cancer Institute - with help from one of the partners. I feel that this is a huge responsibilty and I definitely want to go above and beyond. It's weird to think that once my boss returns - I will have worked there longer with her gone than with her there though.

The other girls on my team kept implying next week would be insane so I thought it wise to stay in one night this weekend and just get some R&R after last weekends minimal amount of sleep.

Nothing much else to report. Mom is all moved into her new house and ecstatic. My uncle came through his heart surgery - so far, so good. And Dad is busy bouncing from visiting him to baseball games to golf outings to everywhere it seems.

My birthday is quickly approaching, and I can't help but think this time last year, my roommates in San Diego were trying to talk me out of this move. I still sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I'd waited to see if I got the offer at PRA and stayed there. But I know, once again, in the end, I'm where I'm supposed to be right now. I just can't believe I'm coming up on a year of living in Las Vegas.. It has seriously flown by.

Paparazzi all up in my business...

Yesterday was a surreal moment in my life. There I stood on the red carpet outside of The Palms casino, in my dress and heels, with credentials around my neck, watching George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Jerry Weintraub walk right past me, stopping inches away from me to sign autographs for screaming 10 year old girls and even louder 50 year old women. (Mom, I can imagine how you would act in that situation...) :-)

After we all put in our hours and made sure the event went well, I just kind of reflected on my life. I called my dad who wanted to know all about it, and he kept telling me, "Enjoy this, Alison.. This is your moment."

His words have never sunk in more than there... Working at large events like this was a dream, not something I realistically thought would be a reality. And now here I am, just about to turn 24, and on one of the largest red carpet events in Vegas history. I don't know whether to laugh, cry, scream, or just sit and reflect.

The Kirvin Doak Communications girls on the red carpet.

I've been going through some difficult situations this past week. All turning me more and more homesick and feeling that itch to move on from Vegas. But I refuse to let anyone or anything take this moment from me.

I remember my first night in Kansas City before starting my internship.. I looked out of my apartment window at this big glowing gold church steeple that is a centerpoint of downtown. I looked at the skyscrapers right outside my window, and I thought "Alison... you are living out one of your dreams. Right now. You're here, in this city, about to start a major internship and about to start your life."

I couldn't have felt more like that last night. I am so blessed to have come so far and to have had amazing family and friends to support me and encourage me to keep believing in my goals and my future. It's been a long road, but I made it this far, and I have no plans of turning back now.

Now to the juicy stuff... All of the celebrities are so much smaller in person. I know you hear that a lot, but they really are. George Clooney is sooo skinny and wasn't much taller than me with my stilettos on. Brad Pitt - skinny skinny - seriously! Matt Damon was the only one that looked like he was what I would consider a regular sized guy. And I noticed he had a little grey hair growing in the back... How old is he??

Anyways.. It was fantastic. It was great to bond with the girls I work with, and just to experience something on that large of a scale.

AND in other great news, my very very dear friend Devan just found out he was approved for another year of eligibility playing football with the Iowa Hawkeyes. After getting injured last year during his senior year, he was forced to sit out most of the season. I am soooo excited that he will get to come back and hopefully end his last year the way he wants to and enjoy all of those moments on the field one last time. I could not be more proud of him.

Up next for me - the next four days will be consumed with the Las Vegas Springs Preserve grand opening followed by Jewel performing in concert at their outside amphitheater on Saturday night.


Someone pinch me.

One thing I don't miss about Iowa...

Tornadoes in Eastern Iowa -- from The Des Moines Register.












My black eye and forehead wound about 5 days after being hit in the face with a tree branch while a tornado touched down on the ISU campus - fall 2005.

Welcome to the blogging world...

I have been "blogging" since high school, on different sites here or there, but I finally decided I should put my thoughts and stories in one place. This of course will be a PG-13 rated version as I'll be sending the link to my friends AND family. I guess I just got tired of hearing "So and so asked about you again.." from my dad. Now he'll have a place to direct them as most of his stories get a little fuzzy since I usually interrupt his Dancing with the Stars viewing when I call on my way home from work.

Me: Dad.. did you hear what I said?
Dad: Of course... Oh, you should see this number that Joey's partner is wearing.. Whoo!
Me: (sigh...)

Just kidding, Dad :)

I chose the heading of this blog (Is this heaven?) because as any Iowan knows, the correct answer to that question is "No, it's Iowa." from the film Field of Dreams... However, if you ask just about any single 20-something where heaven is, they'd probably say Vegas. I'm just a girl trying to combine those two lives and figure out how to survive and excel is this big, bright city.


So this will be the longest, most general post since I really don't know who has any interest in my life out here. Let's put it into categories:


EMPLOYMENT
The new job.. I love it. I don't have a single doubt that I made the right decision. I'm working on this on my lunch break, and sometimes I just sit and listen to the people around me talk about all the cool things are office is working on. I feel so blessed to be living out my dream.


The clients I work on are Nevada Cancer Institute, The Blue Man Group, Las Vegas Springs Preserve, BODIES The Exhibition, Vegas PBS, and El Cortez Hotel.

Coolest things I've been asked to do so far... On Wednesday, I am scheduled to work the Ocean's 13 premiere at The Palms. That's right, me and Clooney rubbing elbows... Well, ok, probably not THAT cool, but definitely an experience. That is only to be followed up by a Jewel concert on Saturday for the Grand Opening of the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.


I'm just excited for all the opportunities at this job, and I actually get excited to come to work. Now THAT'S a good feeling!



FRIENDS
I was worried when I left Iowa that I would never find friends anywhere that compared to my friends from home. While I miss my friends back there every day, I have been so lucky to find a great group out here as well. We keep pretty entertained with a good mix of things to do, either dancing at a club, singing karaoke, laying poolside, going to movies, watching sporting events a Buffalo Wild Wings, or my favorite activity - 'Clark family rules' water volleyball.



I've been lucky to have quite a few friends stop into town as well which cuts down on the homesickness. Kelly has been out here twice, and with her upcoming move to Phoenix, I know we will see a lot more of each other. Jessica and Stephanie came to visit in March, and we all had so much fun together. I'm trying to convince my brother and the boys to make it out in November, but only time will tell.



FAMILY
Speaking of the brother, my reports tell me he is doing well. He has a job with something to do with printing so I know the whole family was excited about that. He is living in Des Moines, near Drake, which I was very jealous of around the time of the Relays. I wish we talked more, but I don't really know what we'd talk about. He is currently upset with me for not placing a bet on the Mayweather boxing match for him, but hopefully he'll get over it by the time Notre Dame football starts :)

Mom just bought a new house in Ames that she is in love with. I think she is so excited to have a place to call her own and put her decorating hobby to the test. The backyard is nice and spacious with a fenced in yard for the puppies to run free. We are trying to plan a trip to Kansas City this summer in August. She claims any time she pays to fly me home, she never gets to see me, so she wanted a destination weekend.

Dad is busy with work, golf, and announcing the baseball games this summer. He keeps me updated on all the happenings in GC, and I am excited to see him again in July when we fly up to San Francisco for Shaun Moylan's wedding.


LIFE... THE GENERAL STUFF.
People always want to check in on the love life... Dating in this town is impossible. That's all I'll say for now! :)


This week has been a hard one as far as the homesickness goes. I think there have just been so many things going on back home that I haven't gotten to participate in so it's been hard... And you know, it's the little things I miss. Going to baseball games with my dad, Jess & Steph's housewarming party, seeing them tear up the high school track where I spent four years cheering my heart out on, seeing Britni graduate high school, etc etc etc...


At the end of the day, I am proud of myself for taking this leap. But I can't help but wonder what my life would have been like if I was still in Des Moines. I know I'm a better person because of this journey, but it doesn't make being away from all I knew for 22 years any easier or make me miss it any less.

I'm where I'm supposed to be right now. But I don't know how long that will last.

But as always - this too shall pass. These are good times, and I'm going to enjoy them.

Look for more fun news soon!

I took this picture looking out on The Strip from the Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay.