Some Pics

The whole group of us at Mon Ami Gabi for Julie's birthday dinner...Roe, Cristina, Me, Mom, Gianna, Julie, Diane, and Judy

Mom and Me in front of a fountain near the Paris

Gianna, Julie and Jeffery at the Big Apple Bar in New York New York

This is the actual view from the Foundation Room which is "perched" on top of the Mandalay Bay...this is what we saw while on the outdoor balcony...just simply beautiful...

Cristina, Paul, Me and Alex...The Ultimate Fighting boys from Liverpool that just walked in to our private room...and gave us some things to laugh about...

Home Sweet Home

After our fun trip to Vegas and back I realized that I'm not going to by flying for a long time...The airline we flew on was constantly delayed...and flying to Phoenix the pilot decided it would be cool to tip the plane back and forth about 40 times...not so much fun...

Vegas was awesome!! The weather was always sunny and HOT!! Like 112 degrees hot...and there's really no shade to protect you...or cool you down...we laid by the pool on Thursday and I got a little...very little color...Thursday night we went to Mon ami Gabi at the Paris for Julie's birthday which was super good!! Saw the fountains at Bellagio and went to a dueling piano bar in New York New York and then to the Big Apple bar where we had our own little corner...

Friday morning mom rented a car (PT Cruiser convertible) and we went to the Harley dealer, World's Largest Souvenir Store, the mall, and then we took a ride to the Hoover Dam. It was really cool to see this huge structure and to think about all the people that worked on it. Friday night we went to the Peppermill which was just fun. The young girls laughed throughout dinner just because we were having fun and making up stupid bar names...after that we went to the Mandalay Bay. We went up to the Foundation Room which is a members only club for the House of Blues. This is the sight that we saw...

This picture is actually from the House of Blues website because I didn't have our camera to take pics...The only difference is that it was pitch black and the strip was full of lights. It was amazing!! The person who got us in rented a private room for us (the Buddah room) and the whole night ended up being on him. I don't know if I'll ever have a better night than that one...

Saturday morning Mom and I went to the Bellagio for breakfast and walked around the conservatory which was absolutely stunning. After breakfast we went to the Ansel Adams exhibit which was just awesome. To see his actual works of art, signed by him was just amazing. To see the world through his eyes and through his lens was breathtaking. The rest of Saturday I slept and just relaxed which was good. Saturday night we went to Battista's Hole in the Wall for really good Italian food. After dinner some people went back to the hotel and I met up with Mandy, Heidi, Marie and Becca at Ceasar's. We walked around to different hotels and just enjoyed hanging out. We were at the Mirage and I decided that it was time to get back to the Monte Carlo. I walked down the strip and through some hotels and then instead of taking a cab I just decided to walk all the way back.

Sunday morning Mom and I got up and got to the airport early which was a good thing. Our flight to Phoenix was delayed about 40 minutes with no explanation and then our flight to Chicago was delayed an hour due to weather conditions...or so they say...We got home pretty late last night and Dad was great and had ordered us dinner from Pompei earlier. I had some soup and went to bed. I think I'm going to go eat my Gnocchi for lunch now so I'm out...

It was a really fun weekend with mom and I'm glad we got to do everything that we did. I'm so glad that I have a mom who's willing to stay up super late with me and go out with me...Thanks mom!!

Vegas Here Comes Trouble!!!

Just a quick post for today... Tomorrow mom and I will be leaving to go to Las Vegas!! I am sooo super excited I can't even begin to tell you!! This will be my first trip to this beautiful city and I'm sure it will be memorable!! There are 8 of us going and I also have a few other friends who just happen to be going at the same time. It will be good to catch up with those folks and just have a fun time!! I plan on laying poolside and enjoying the 100+ degree weather and just relaxing and reading...as for the night...I'm sure us girls will find something to do ;-) I'm pumped to go to some clubs and enjoy the nightlife!! I would also like to see a few landmarks and of course go to the Harley store...that's a must!! Well I have to get going to work but I'm sure I'll write when I get back!!

Happy Belated Birthday Beautiful!

My Dearest Laur,

Happy 22nd Birthday!!

I still miss you everyday. I still think about you everyday. I think of all of the wonderful things you've missed and also all of the crap that you've missed too. I raised a bottle last night in your honor, wishing so much that you were there with me to celebrate. Remembering and then trying to forget that you aren't here.

And then this morning (or rather this afternoon) listening to your "I Love You Lord". Thinking about how your beautiful voice is singing that song maybe right now. Thinking about seeing you, arms raised, just praising the God who made you and took you home. Wishing that you would have just opened up to one person. Wishing that you would have realized that no one is perfect and that no one really has it all together. Wishing that I could give you just one more hug and not let you go.

So here's to you my beautiful friend...I love you and miss you...

Love always and forever
Steph

I Passed!!

Thank you to everyone who was praying for me yesterday!! I passed my BOR exam!! I almost started crying at the testing center in fact...Thank you again!!

Stephanie, MT(ASCP)

(i get letters behind my name now!!!)

Music to calm the nerves

As most of you know, I've been busy studying for the past few weeks for my BOR exam. This is a certification exam that I've been putting off for about a year. BIG mistake on my part. The whole studying thing is just not my thing anymore. I've been spending time at Caribou and outside and in different rooms of the house to keep focused. I'm just overwhelming myself with a lot of information with the hope that I will somehow retain it just for a few days until after my exam. On Wednesday June 7th at 9am my test will begin. I had a 3 month window in which I could pick pretty much any day and any time. I chose June 7th for a few reasons. Number 1: My 3 month window ends on the 13th of June so I figured I'd wait til the last possible minute to take it. Number 2: Laurie's birthday. In honor and in memory of my "Lil Laur". Number 3: I guess there was only 2 reasons...haha oh well....

I've realized that while having my cds stolen was a horrible thing, it's helping me to be more selective when choosing cds to buy. I take that back...I'm such an impulse buyer it's not even funny!! I recently bought the Red Hot Chili Peppers new cd as well as The Wreckers. I highly recommend them both. What I really want to talk about is The Wreckers though. I'm loving this cd tremendously!! The lyrics that these girls have written are so on target with so many of my feelings lately. One of my favorite songs is called "Cigarettes". The lines that hit me most are these:

"'Cause someday maybe
Somebody will love me like I need
And someday I won't have to prove
'Cause somebody will see
all my worth but until then
I'll do just fine on my own
With my cigarettes
And this old dirt road"

I haven't been smoking for a while now but mainly the first part hits me the most and reminds me that I am worth a lot and that I don't have to keep trying to prove that I'm worth loving...Oh how I love music so much...I just wish I was musically inclined sometimes...

Well I'm gonna get going...but if you happen to read this please shoot up a prayer around 9am on Wednesday for me...Pray that I would have a calm spirit, that I would have wisdom and knowledge, that I would read the questions very carefully and that I wouldn't get discouraged if I don't pass. Thanks so much!!!