I can't wait for this holiday to be over...

I've never been a big fan of Halloween. I think there is so much pressure to figure out a clever outfit or a funny one or a slutty one.. The girls in Vegas take slutty to a whole new level.. A friend of a friend last year actually pasted fake leaves over her nipples and vaginal region and went out as Eve (from Adam and Eve) to the nightclubs.. I guess she won a huge prize though worth like maybe $5k if not more.. So I suppose she's the smart one in the end..

Since I came up with nothing witty or slutty enough to head out, I stayed in and handled some of the trick-or-treaters that stopped by the house tonight.. They finally stopped ringing the doorbell around 9 pm. I went up to my room and opened my window to get ready for bed, and it smells like campfire, someone's burning something.. There aren't really leaves to burn so I'm not sure what it is, but it smells like heaven. A scent you never know you miss until you don't smell it enough...

Which reminds me... I think that the statement "don't know what you got until it's gone" is so true. Last weekend I was truly in awe of the amazing orange and yellow leaves back in Iowa. When I stopped in the ISU alumni office to pick up some decor for our events, I commented how great it is to see them. The woman helping me said, "Actually, they're not good at all this year.. I'm so disappointed." It took me about 30 seconds to pick my jaw up from the floor.

I can't wait to go home again. It's funny but I'm not sure what makes me more homesick, not going back forever or going, getting a taste and then having to leave. I'll be back so much in the next two months, but it makes me really happy. Hopefully the upcoming holidays will be a joyous event, everyone will get along, and everyone will have a good time.

Until then, work work work! :)

A funny thing happened on the way to McD's...

Close to the lunch hour today I was heading from a meeting back to my office when I decided to stop at McDonald's and get an ice cream cone to hold me over before I could actually eat lunch. I went through the drive-up window, handed the first girl my $1.79 (I know, right?? When did the prices skyrocket on frozen cream??) and then went to pick it up. This guy comes to the window -- he was foreign, I think maybe Russian but I'm not sure.. He smiles at me and says "So beautiful!" and I look at this great cone he's made that would make my mom proud and say "Oh yes, it is a great cone!"

At this point he looks at me funny and points at me.. "No, YOU so beautiful. Have a nice day!"

Has Vegas jaded me so much that I can't even see a compliment coming? That I immediately think the complimentor is talking about someone or something else... EVEN something as trivial as an ice cream cone???

I started to think about this on my drive home... This guy didn't want anything from me -- not my phone number, not to see me again. He just wanted to tell me that he thought I was beautiful and go on with his day. It was genuine -- again not something you see/hear of much out here -- and to be honest, it was close to the highlight of my day.

THE highlight of my day was getting to meet Lon Kruger -- head coach of men's basketball at UNLV. We're working with him on an event, and he was one of the nicest guys I think I've ever met. Again -- very genuine. When my dad asked me how the meeting went, I told him he seemed like the nicest coach I'd ever met -- even possibly nicer than Coach Callahan (UNL) who had offered to call my dad and tell him to take me to Ireland when I had to drive him around during my college internship in Kansas City -- and I don't say that about just anyone.

Today was my first day back in town from a long weekend back home. It was the first time I'd been to Iowa in 6 months, and believe me, I needed it. I'm going to be back 3 more times before the end of the year, and I'm hoping that will hold me over for a while. Hopefully no more staring out my window in bed, watching the lights of airplanes as they are on their way out of town, jealous of whoever is on that plane on their way back home to see family and friends.

I'll write more about home later -- great trip, great Iowa game.. No sleep but great times :) For now, I'm going to go catch up on that sleep though...

Whether the odds be great or small, old Notre Dame will win overall...

I could NOT be more excited right now....

I walked out of work today, and the air is so crisp. It's like the perfect fall day, and for some reason it really reminded me of leaving school the day of the big homecoming game in high school. Maybe it's because it feels like Iowa outside or maybe because it's my high school alma mater's homecoming today... I'm not sure.. But I decided this morning that I could not pass up an opportunity this weekend and now I want to share with everyone.

On my way to work I was checking my email on my phone (I know, I know.. but it was at a stoplight, I swear!) and an email came through from someone in the Las Vegas Notre Dame club that was trying desparately to get rid of his tickets in LA for the UCLA game this weekend. He had an emergency and had dropped the tickets a total of $125 in price for three. I couldn't possible pass up going to see ND play for $40, especially when I knew tickets were going for $300 in LA... Even if the team is playing terrible, I have to have hope that maybe this game will be their turning around point... I mean, isn't that the point of being a fan? Remaining constantly optimistic?

Either way.. I'll be at an ND game. It can't ever be a horrible experience (or so I hope).

So my friends Brad and Tiffany and I are taking off in about an hour. We're staying with one of Brad's friends at Hermosa Beach, and we are all so excited to just have planned the most sporatic spontaneous roadtrip in the last 7 hours!

The kicker... I get to see my dad. I haven't seen him since July, and that seems soooo long ago. I know I'll get to see him more times than normal in the next three months, but when you're this far away, you take every shot you can get. And since he didn't spoil me and buy me a ticket on my own, I'll make it work myself!

Ok I MUST go pack and get ready.

GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Random thoughts for a random day...

I really hate going to the post office. Even now that I know how to use the little electronic machine that is open 24/7 - I still can't bring myself to remember to stop and mail my cousin's baby presents after work... I avoid that place more than the doctor.

I go home in 22 days... And I COULDN'T be more excited. Is it weird that I'm actually thrilled at the idea of driving 2 hours to go watch Guthrie Center play Bedford in football? All these kids that are the stars of the team are the same kids I taught how to float in swim team so many years ago... I can't wait to just drive through town and look it over, see how it's doing. I can't wait to run into random people at the grocery store or the bank and catch up. I love home. I feel so safe there. I hope I'm not building myself up for disappointment, but at this point, I miss it so much, I think I'll just be elated to be back in a place where my life was so simple.

I would be interested to see if people that have careers in public relations agencies die at a younger age... This has been a hellacious week and it's only Wednesday. I feel like my mind is being pulled in 1000 directions.

Vegas has been a creepy place lately.. As if it wasn't creepy enough that we have this psycho pedophile on the loose, I just heard today that there is some repeat rapist running around town and sneaking in through open windows. All things I'm aware happen everywhere, but still... It doesn't make me feel any safer at night.

My dad is going to LA this weekend.. To see Notre Dame play... Without me! The nerve, right??

I get to see this comedian who I politically admire soooo much perform on Saturday. For free. Just another reason I LOVE my job.

Watching tonight's Newport Harbor episode reminded me of the morning I left for college.. That brings back some old memories I haven't thought about in a while.. And it made me miss Rhoda - my old Alero that was so small and cute and sporty (No offense, Eileen (my new SUV). I love you too).

The new Dashboard Confessional cd came out yesterday and by the time the third NOTE had played, I was in love... I'm bummed I will miss seeing them next Friday at HOB but I've got a house party to host :-)

I love that when people back home see Vegas on tv they think of me and send me a text. My cousin Julia text me when The Hills was in Vegas the other night and it seriously made me smile that she thought of me! Although its funny... now when I see all that stuff, like them sitting at Pure nightclub, I think of my friends at work who had to staff the club that night and handle all press and couldn't go out with us instead of thinking how cool it is that the tv show happened to be in the same town haha.. Oh how the job changes you!

And to end this most random of thoughts post... I have finally found a place in Vegas where I could probably be happy going every single night.. Stoney's is the new country bar that opened up when The Frontier which housed Gilley's closed down. It is an amazing good time.