Shadia's Bachelorette - Vegas: Day One

Today was our first day in Vegas! What a long day it was too - but a super fun day. Shadia and I had a 7:30 am flight. We got to Vegas around 9:15 and then met up with her friend Erin at the airport around 10am. We all went to get the car rental and then headed over to the condo to check in.

Condo at The Signature MGM Grand is GORGEOUS! And it ends up that we kind of like the privateness of it and it works out just fine even though it's off the strip. The size of the place was perfect and it had all the nice amenities we could want.

We set out for a sushi lunch at Caesar's Palace but we got lost and ended up on the highway and decided just to get to the Bellagio where our spa appointments were set for 2:30. We had lunch at Olives which was really fun for me because Todd English owns it and I have seen him on TV alot. I was glad I got to try out his food. We had a flatbread appetizer which had figs and some kind of cheese on it. It was really good and I think those flatbreads are what Olives is known for.

After lunch we headed over to enjoy the spa. We each got a Deluxe Massage which included a hot oil treatment for our hair and scalp. After that we each got a body scrub. We walked out of there nice and relaxed. We had to go grocery shopping to pick up some food and drinks for the condo.

We didn't get back to the condo until about 5:30. Susan had just arrived and within the next few hours Lauren and Tina were to come. Lauren got there first and the other girls decided to nap so Lauren and I went to Diego at MGM Grand for some yummy mexican food and margaritas.

Unfortunately for me, I was just too exhausted by that time to get dressed and go out. The others got a nap so they had a bit more energy. I slept from about midnight until 3am or whenever they got home. Then we were up chatting and drinking until about 5am. Girls went to PURE at Caesar's Palace and while I do wish I got to check out the club, I'm glad I got to catch some zzz's and have some time alone to relax. Besides, there is always tomorrow!

The Ground Beneath Her Feet

On the way home from work tonight I finished "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" by Salman Rushdie. I know, he's so 90's, isn't he? Actually, I have never read anything by him before and I think he's a friggin' genius!

I'm not sure what to make of The Ground Beneath Her Feet: half of me LOVES it and half of it frustrates me. Overall, the story was absolutely beautiful. But sometimes the characters annoyed me. This is supposed to be story of rock 'n' roll (according to Bono) and sometimes I found that a bit lacking. After all, I have been listening to the song by U2 for the past 8 years or so! "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" is on the "Million Dollar Hotel" movie soundtrack. The song was written by U2 but the lyrics are from Salman Rushdie and they are from a song in the book. When we got to the part about that song being written I did get chills.

The narrator of the audiobook, Christopher Cazenove, brought alot of drama to the book that I might just have hurried through. His words sounded so melodious at times and I don't think I would have been able to recreate all the expression while reading it myself.

The Ground Beneath Her Feet is listed as one of the 1001 Books You Must Read Before you Die. In fact, I chose to read this book now because it is the selection of that monthly book club at GoodReads.com. It was a good pick and I'm really glad I was exposed to Salman Rushdie.

He's F@#$ing Ben Affleck

This is just genius!

Jersey Boys

Tonight we missed the lunar eclipse because we went to see Jersey Boys. It was alot of fun - even better than I expected. I bought our tickets as a Valentine's present for my mom. She had been wanting to see it for a while.

Before the play we went to dinner at Atwood Cafe and that was really great as well. I had a really good salmon and tuna tartare appetizer and then some excellent scallops in a pear sauce for dinner.

Jersey Boys is playing at the LaSalle Bank Theater (which is the old Shubert). Mom and Dick sat in the first row of the balcony. I had a seat by myself in the middle of the theater. During the performance I could look up at mom and Dick and see them smiling. After the show they said it was all the music they "grew up" with and it reminded them of being in their 20s. For me, I was familiar with about half of the songs. As soon as I got home I went and bought the Frankie Valli and the Four Season Greatest Hits.

Below is a clip from the performance at the Tony Awards (the horns coming in was SO COOL when you see it live):

American Idol: Top 12 Boys

The top 12 boys performed tonight on American Idol. Everyone either seems to be 29 or 17. Did they raise the age limits or something? I thought before the oldest contestant was 26. A whole handful of them were not good at all. A few of them are pure eye candy - Michael Johns and Luke Menard. Unfortunately for him, Luke Menard couldn't carry a tune! Based on seeing these guys tonight I have picked 5 that I would like to see in the finals:

1. Michael Johns (my FAVORITE! awesome accent and hella sexy)


2. David Archuleta (he reminds me of Jordin Sparks)


3. Robbie Carrico (is he really rock 'n' roll or is he faking it?)


4. Jason Castro (even with the dreads, he reminds me of Jack Johnson)


5. David Cook (there's something about his voice that I could see in an indie band)


I don't care about any of the others! So well see in the coming weeks if I am right or not.

The Next "Dancing With The Stars"

Am I the only one psyched about the lineup announced tonight? Adam Carolla is one of my favs! I have no idea who Jason Taylor or Cristian de la Fuente are, but they are friggin' hot! I used to love Kristi Yamaguchi when I used to watch ice skating 10 years ago or so. . . And Priscilla Presley! She's classic. Just when I wasn't going to watch another season I think I'll have to tune back in.


ADAM CAROLLA - Television and Radio personality Adam Carolla is the host of the Los Angeles based and nationally syndicated morning radio program, The Adam Carolla Show. The actor/comedian has his first starring film role soon to be released in The Hammer (in theaters March 21st), which he co-wrote and co-produced. Carolla was also one of the creators and hosts of Comedy Central's The Man Show (alongside Jimmy Kimmel) and the MTV and long-running syndicated radio program, Loveline, with Dr. Drew Pinsky.

CRISTIÁN DE LA FUENTE - Having started his acting career in his native Chile, the international film and television star's Spanish language projects include: Univisión's mini series, Como ama una mujer and Sony television's Reyes y Rey which aired on Telemundo. He gained recognition in the States as a series regular on Family Law and CSI: Miami. Recent TV guest roles include: Ugly Betty and Psych. He stars in the upcoming USA Network series, In Plain Sight. Film work includes Driven and Basic. Cristián is a First Lieutenant in the Chilean Air Force Reserve and a member of Halcones, the High Aerobatics team. People Magazine named him one of their "50 Most Beautiful." He was the first man ever to grace the cover of Cosmopolitan en Espanol.

SHANNON ELIZABETH - Actress/model Shannon Elizabeth starred in the box office hits, American Pie and Scary Movie. Some of her other credits include Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Love Actually, Cuts and That 70s Show. Shannon is also an accomplished poker player taking third out of sixty-four invited professionals at the 2007 National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

STEVE GUTTENBERG - Actor Steve Guttenberg has starred in blockbusters such as Police Academy, Three Men And A Baby, Short Circuit and Cocoon, as well as such acclaimed dramatic hits as Diner and The Boys From Brazil. Guttenberg has starred in a dozen films, each of which earned in excess of $100,000,000 at the American box office. His television credits include one of the highest-rated telefilms of all time, The Day After. Guttenberg runs The Guttenhouse Project, which houses selected children who are phased out of foster care programs.

MARIO - Twenty-one year-old, multi-platinum selling R&B/Pop singer and actor, Mario, is known for such hit singles as "Just a Friend (2002)" and "Let Me Love You." He was the recipient of Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year in 2005 for "Let Me Love You" and was nominated for a Grammy, BET Award, Vibe Award, MOBO Award and Soul Train Music Award. His latest album Go is in stores now. Mario has also appeared in the feature films Step Up and Freedom Writers.

MARLEE MATLIN - Marlee Matlin received worldwide critical acclaim for her film debut in Children of a Lesser God, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Actress. At 21, she became the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar and only one of four actresses to receive the honor for her film debut. In addition to the Oscar, Marlee received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama. She has since appeared on a number of hit television programs including The West Wing, The L-Word, Nip/Tuck, and Desperate Housewives. In Spring 2008, she will star opposite Jeff Daniels in the telefilm, Sweet Nothing In My Ear.

PENN JILLETTE - Penn Jillette is one-half of the famous illusionist team Penn & Teller. Penn & Teller have been performing together for thirty years and are currently headlining in their own theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. They've received eleven Emmy nominations for their television series, Penn & Teller: Bulls**t and created several TV projects together. The duo has also written three best-selling books. In 2005, Penn produced and co-created the critically acclaimed documentary, The Aristocrats.

PRISCILLA PRESLEY - Actress, producer and entrepreneur Priscilla Presley starred in the Naked Gun films and the internationally popular television series Dallas, as well as guest-starred on TV's Touched by an Angel, Spin City and Melrose Place. Founder of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Priscilla has also served as executive producer on the feature film Finding Graceland and the television version of her autobiography, Elvis and Me. Presley was married to music icon, Elvis Presley.

MONICA SELES - Tennis champ, Monica Seles, is the holder of nine grand slam singles titles and was the top-ranked player in the world. She turned pro in 1988 at the age of fourteen and won her first grand slam championship, the French Open, just two years later. After a two-year absence from the tour in 1993 and 1994, Seles rose above adversity and returned to capture her final grand slam crown in 1996 winning the Australian Open. She holds an outstanding career win loss singles record of 595-122 and was ranked the13th greatest player of all time by Tennis Magazine. Her accomplishments also extend beyond the tennis court as Goodwill Ambassador for the Laures Sports Foundation and the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Microalgae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM).

JASON TAYLOR - This year's NFL Man of the Year Award Winner and last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor has played defensive end for the Miami Dolphins for over a decade. The six-time All Pro formed the Jason Taylor Foundation in 2004 and continues to be heavily involved throughout the South Florida community. Taylor holds the NFL record for touchdowns by a defensive lineman (7) and is the Dolphins all-time leader in quarterback sacks (117) and consecutive games played (130). Jason is married to Katina, and the couple reside in Weston, Fla., with their two sons, Isaiah Paul and Mason Paul, and daughter, Zoe Grace.

MARISSA JARET WINOKUR - Marissa Jaret Winokur is best known for creating the role of "Tracy Turnblad" in the hit Broadway musical Hairspray, a performance for which she won a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress. Winokur has since been seen in the Farrelly Brothers film Fever Pitch and the television series Stacked. She just finished filming the series lead in a new pilot called Fugly, for 20th Century Fox and CBS and is currently working as one of the leads in the Lifetime movie Betrayals.

KRISTI YAMAGUCHI - An Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion, Kristi Yamaguchi is one of the most popular and successful figure skaters of our time. Since winning the 1992 Winter Olympics, Yamaguchi retired from competitive skating, performing in numerous television specials and traveling the globe on Stars on Ice tour. Along with her many awards and accomplishments, she is a member of the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame, World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and the US Olympic Hall of Fame. In 1996, she founded the Always Dream Foundation dedicated to fundraising and supporting children's charities. Yamaguchi is married to Stanley Cup Champion and Carolina Hurricanes star, Bret Hedican. Together, they have two young daughters.

A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies

This is one of those books I picked up to read on a plane. It never grabbed my interest - which is maybe why it took me almost a year to read. I did not get this book at all. I could never quite give up on it though because I wanted to find out what happened. From the title, I assumed it would be a somewhat juicy read. It is not at all.

This book takes place in (i think) turn-of-the-century Boston. So I like the historical aspect of it. You know by reading the back of the book that Charlotte leaves her husband because he catches him about to have an affair. She ends up at a "A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies" and you think things should start to get interesting. They don't though. There are no juicy parts. We never truly understand Charlotte's growth into an independent woman. She has these strong feelings to various characters but you never really understand how the relationship developed so deeply that she should have such strong feelings. Some characters seem very random and have no purpose. At the end she plans to go back to her husband after all. She is not to ask any questions and neither is he. I don't know - I don't get it!

Okay, I'm ready for my next book.

Austenland

I LOVED this book :) It is a fun read - delicious chick lit! But it is better than any regular chick lit because the star of the book gets to do what all us hopeless romantic gals would love to do - live in a Jane Austen scenario. For three weeks a modern-day woman goes to play dressup in a submersion vacation. How much fun would that be?

I listened to this story on audiobook. It is about 8 hours long. I put it on this evening while I was doing a few things around the house and I got so sucked in that I listened to the last 5 hours non-stop. What a way to spend a Saturday night :) But I couldn't stop myself. I kept wanting to know what was going to happen between Jane and the various men.

By the way, I just watched Pride & Prejudice last weekend and I think I may have to watch it again!

Great Kisses ... and Famous Lines Right Out of the Movies

Found about this new book in an article by ABC News. Perfect for Valentine's Day, right? "Great Kisses ... and Famous Lines Right Out of the Movies" is a coffee table book that is just what it seems like it would be. This seems like a cute little book for any movie buff and hopeless romantic out there, myself included (hint, hint).



Chapter One

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Not content with stealing from the rich to give to the poor, Saxon outlaw Sir Robin of Locksley has taken an even more precious and rate prize from the fair Maid Marian: her heart. Inexorably drawn to the swashbuckling folk hero with the jaunty smile and playful wit, the ravishing ward of King Richard the Lion Hearted nevertheless plays it cool when Robin scales a castle wall to visit her castle chamber, late one night under a silvery moon.

Robin:
"Very well, then. I'll go. This is rather unfriendly of you, exposing me to my enemies like this." (He nearly slips and falls as she stifles a scream.) "Now let me see. There's a fat old captain of the guard down there with bow legs. I drop on him, that'll bend them outwards. Ah, there's an archer. No, he's too thin. I might miss him altogether."

Marian:
"Robin—.”

Robin:
"The very thing! Five men at arms, talking in a group. They'll break the fall beautifully. Goodbye, my lady."

Marian:
"Robin!"

Robin:
"Yes? Then you do love me, don't you? Don't you?"

Marian:
"You know I do."

Robin:
"Well, that's different."
(He comes back into the room, takes her in his arms, and kisses her.)

The Chicago Way

Being a native Chicagoian, I truly enjoyed this book. To me, the book was part detective story and part tour of the northside of Chicago! The detective story was okay - I found the characters interesting. The mystery aspect was engaging. But for me the true beauty in this story was the great descriptions of places in Chicago. The streets, bars, hotels - they are all real. For me it was exciting to be able to mentally picture the scenarios in the story so accurately.

Sears: Day 1

I started my new job today. After not working for almost 5 months it was tough to get up and get to work by 9am. And of course it was FREEZING out and the trains were all backed up. I realize I haven't taken the train to work in downtown Chicago for about 10 years! I was very quickly reminded of what big city public transportation during rush hour really is like.

I love the job though! People are really nice and the project is going to be a lot of work which is good because it's something I can really sink my teeth into.

Kanye at the Grammy's

I'm a sucker for awards show. Of course I watched The Grammy's last night. I was really happy to see Amy Winehouse win a few, especially record of the year. Tina Turner and Beyonce had an awesome performance together. But the highlight of the show was Kanye West with Daft Punk!!!

Pillars of the Earth

Before the holidays Oprah chose "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett as her book club pick. It sounding very interesting when she described it . . . 12th century, building a cathedral, love, war, and lots more. I really like historical fiction so I thought I'd give it a try. I bought the book at Barnes and Noble and also downloaded the audiobook from Audible.com. This way I read along with the audiobook when I was home, but since the book was almost 1000 pages and 40 hours of unabridged audiobook, I also listened to the story in the car, when I was shoveling snow or before bed.

I liked the book. I'm not sure it was the best book I ever read, but the story moved along and I do think the book changed my life. Not in any major way, but know when I see building I want to know the story behind the people who built it. How long did it take them? Were there any tragedies or delays during the building process? I'm sure this will definitely come into play when I visit Scotland this September.

Oh, the Snow!

I can't believe how much snow we got! Yesterday was madness. I was stuck in rush-hour traffic and it took me two hours to get home! I could practically FLY to Tampa during that time. My mother measured with a yard-stick and we got 14-inches in the backyard. This is a picture of Tristen in the snow - he LOVES it! He puts his head down and throws chunks of snow up in the air. He jumps through the snow in the backyard when he gets stuck or else he just plows his way through. He's so cute!