Exhaustion never tasted so sweet...

Talk about a marathon week at work! My main client had their annual fundraiser Rock for the Cure event on Thursday and the celebs really showed up to do their part. Paris Hilton, Criss Angel, Larry King, Sylvester Stallone, Kimberly and Sean Stewart, Tommy Lee, Miss USA & Miss Universe, Howie Mandel were all there. Rod Stewart performed, and I never knew I liked him music until I recognized almost all of the songs. I also got to meet him and his son Sean (who is hot but quite a mess at the same time) which was amazing. In reality, I talked to all of them when we had to work the red carpet and then ask permission for photos for our own coverage to service the news.

Not bad for a girl from Guthrie Center, Iowa!

My boss and I worked from 9 am on Thursday until 5 am on Friday non-stop.. I finally got home, collapsed in my bed, only to get up at 7:30 am to head in to work and start tracking all the coverage. We've had a lot of great reports - mostly from celebrity blogs about the Kim Stewart + Tommy Lee romance. Either way -- it's getting my client's name out there which is especially important because they are an amazing organization that I feel incredibly lucky to have some small role within.

I hit my breaking point of exhaustion last night when I got home at 6:30 pm after delivering one last tape to Extra's offices in town. I tried to last until 9 to watch Friday Night Lights, but I was in my bed and out of it by 7:30. One of my friends called me a little after 9, which I thought I dreamt until I saw we talked for 3 minutes in my call log. I bet I made absolutely no sense to him, and to be honest, I have no idea what we talked about - haha.

But it was all worth it to wake up this morning to an email from my boss telling me I kicked butt on this. Ultimately, my goal is just to prove myself within this agency that is made up of 30+ capable and amazing young publicists. I want to show that I'm willing to put in the extra effort to see my client come out on top, and I want to continue to grow here.

I know I had a rough battle with homesickness before going back. However, the drama of my hometown last trip made me realize first and foremost that there isn't a lot of change taking place in Iowa. That is both good and bad. Mostly it reminded me that no matter how long I'm away, my friends there will always remain my friends. I fell right back into place with my girls and truly had an amazing bonding experience with all of my boys that I look to as additional brothers. I think it was eye-opening to see that it's ok for me to be so far away but still know that my love and loyalty for all of those amazing people that took part in the first 22 years of my life remains constant.

I'm hoping it will give me the boost to really dive into Las Vegas and accept the future that I know is possible here.

It's truly one of the most exciting times of my life, and I am so blessed to have amazing friends, both far and near, the best family in the entire world, and God in my life to guide me through all of this.

Damn you, country music...

I know I've said this before.. but.. country music makes me REALLY homesick. I don't know why -- it just has always reminded me of back home. Maybe because the story lines of most songs could be related to life in Iowa... I don't know.

The only problem... I am obsessed with country music right now. I can't stop listening to it. I play it every morning when I wake up, and I have been in a serious downloading frenzy with Rascal Flatts, Gary Allan, Carrie, Emerson Drive, etc right now..

I guess it's a good thing I'm going back to Iowa again this weekend. I was literally just there but I can't wait to get back. This is going to be such a fast trip though... I take the red-eye out on Friday night and get into Des Moines around 7:30 am on Saturday. My dad's *surprise* birthday is Saturday night and then I'm back to Vegas on Sunday night. I write openly about this because I had to break the news to my dad about his party since he had - OF COURSE - made plans to go out of town... He is impossible to plan a surprise for, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve that he doesn't know about. I'm hoping it will be a really great party and a good night had by all.

After that, it's back to Vegas but only for two more weeks after that until Thanksgiving. And then I'll be back for about 8 days for Christmas.

I don't know what this homesick bug that has bitten me is all about... Maybe it's just because of fall and I love fall back home. By the time I have to deal with snow, I'm sure I'll get over it :-)

I think my best friend is planning a trip out here in January. Dad is thinking of coming for a golf tournament in February, and Mom had mentioned a trip after Valentine's Day is over. So I can't really complain.. For living so far away, I'm pretty lucky to get to touch base with the home land so often.

Some big things coming up this week at work. Hopefully it will be a good one but go quick so I can hop on that plane and be on my way!