Six Years in Vegas!

I have lived in Las Vegas for six years today!!! :)

Happy, Happy Friday!!! I have lived in Las Vegas for 6 Years today!!! Happy Las Vegas-versary to me! I can finally say it feels like home and I love this city--now! And I think if I moved from here, I'd actually miss it. I'm so glad I came to Vegas, even though I wasn't so glad to be coming here six years ago today. I have grown up so much in this town--learned so much, met amazing people, and of course, this is also where I met my husband! I really like Vegas, it's still not a town to find yourself in, but it is fun and can be a great place to live! We've got something for everyone here--and the sky is the limit! Beyond the strip there's a real culture here; an art one, a music one, a theater one. We have the BEST food in the world now (thanks to the World's Best Chefs coming here--thank you!), lots of movie theaters, cheap grocery stores, lots of fantastic shopping (okay, maybe a little too much of that here) and overall, a really caring community. Of course we have sex and sin and alcahol and gambling and drugs, I mean, it's Vegas, come on--but once you get past all of that, Vegas really is a cool place to be! I'm happy that I live here, but so proud that I'm from Reno! As I always say....Reno gave me roots, but Vegas has given me Wings! So, thanks, Vegas...here's to the next years to come......

I have SO much to do today!!! Good thing I got up early...have I mentioned that I love good strong coffee? It's the best! And a tall glass of water and sourdought toast w/ apple butter...what a great way to start my day--that and meditating...I'm off to a great start!

Hannukah beings tonight, so HAPPY HANNUKAH to all of you who celebrate it! May God Bless each of you as you celebrate this most joyous, miraculous holiday! Menorah's are so beautiful & in honor of you all, I think I'll make some latkes this weekend--they're so yummy! :) Happy Hannukah, everyone!

I've got to get going on my Christmas cards, most of which are addressed & stamped--thank goodness! But I don't think they'll make it into the mailbox until Monday, December 14th...yes, I'm late this year! But hey, I'm a working woman now--and I'm married...enough said! I seriously don't know how women with children do it, I'm busy enough with just a husband!

Speaking of that husband...we have had the best week this week--truly, it's been awesome! I feel like we are new again. It was really rough there for a long time and to be honest, we both just take it one day at a time. We made a lifetime commitment, yes, but taking it ONE DAY at a time is MUCH easier. It really tones down the crazy, you know?! Anyway, this past week, my husband has been so romantic and sweet! I feel like the luckiest girl! First of all, we totally averted an argument the other day by properly using an anger scale (therapists suggestion) and actually listened to each other without getting all pissed off and yelling. That's an accomplishment! I don't want to make it sound like we yell all the time, but we're both very stubborn people and so for us to be all mature and rational about it--in the midst of it--is quite awesome! I'm so proud! :) Anyway, last Thursday as I was getting ready to go work out (light workout, 5--10 minutes on a stationary bicycle), he stopped me and asked me for a hug! Then when I went over the couch and gave him one, he wrapped both his arms around me and squeezed me tight! Aww! Then last Friday night, he called me at work and told me that he "really really" missed me and to "please hurry home." On Saturday, we went out on a date (I know!) and had yummy fried food at Marie Callendar's and then walked around the Gold Coast Casino for a while. It was National Finals Rodeo Week here in Vegas so all the cowboys and cowgirls were in town and I felt like I was back home in Reno! It was great! I'm so proud to be from there, I was telling Colin all about growing up in Reno. We grew up in such vastly different towns (me in Reno, him in LA) that it's cool to swap stories about that stuff. Anyway, Sunday night, I made dinner and we ate it together at the coffee table, sitting on the floor. Delicious artichokes! Let's see, Monday....he gave me an extra long kiss that morning and ate my yummy homemade chocolate chip cookies that I had just baked! Tuesday night is when we averted that argument! Wednesday night we cuddled up together on the couch and fell asleep on each other (literally). It was a night WITHOUT the computer, we just sat and watched TV and cuddled and talked a bit here and there. And it was positively blissful! Having his full attention was absolutely wonderful! (I feel like a newlywed!) Oh yeah, Monday was our 9 month wedding anniversary, we made it 9 months! Yay! Anyway, then last night, we watched the National Christmas Tree Lighting on PBS and danced to that Ray Charles Christmas Song. I actually got up off the couch and grabbed him and started dancing and he started dancing with me! It was awesome! It was so sweet and romantic--we had all the Christmas lights lit up and the little tiny tree we have in the corner (and I mean tiny, a foot high on an end table, but I digress) and just swayed together, back and forth. It was positively lovely! I'm just really happy with him right now, and it's not about what happened last month or last year, or what will happen next month or next year (well, next month IS next year, but you know what I mean--LOL!)...I think the key to a happier marriage (cuz it can't be happy ALL the time, that's just not real life) is truly taking it ONE DAY at a time. Every day, you make the choice to do something nice, be a little kinder, make them feel appreciated and take responsibility for your actions and your behavior. I feel really blessed that Colin and I have had such a great week and I really hope it continues! Tomorrow, we're celebrating my birthday (11 days early) and we're going to a movie and to lunch. I'm thinking PF Chang's because I've never been there and always wanted to go, but we'll see. We're going to go see The Blind Side, which I've wanted to see for ages now (since before it came out Nov. 20th), and he's finally going to with me! Well, it's my birthday, he kind of has to. LOL! He's next though and he'll be 30! Personally, I'm in no hurry, but when I turn 30 four years from now, EVERYONE is going to know it! I'll be shouting it as loud as I can from the highest place I can climb! Even though I'm afraid of heights--I'll be 30--that's an accomplishment! Every day of life is an accomplishment, a miracle....there's so much craziness, darkness, negativity and ways to be taken out of this life...each day is a gift! 30 years of days, or 26 this year in my case--it's so worth celebrating! I'm really looking forward to it!

Tomorrow morning, though, I have a meeting @ work where I get to make suggestions! I'm quite excited about it. I've never done that, the last meeting we had was when I had only worked there for 4 days, so you know, I was the brand new girl then and I'm still the new girl, but I have more responsibility now (which I really like & appreciate) and I know how it works--for the most part. I really love my job, it's hectic and crazy sometimes (particularly Wednesday), but I'm so incredibly blessed to have one. God really lined up the PERFECT job for me! I am so lucky!

Let's see, I really don't have time to be writing this entry, but I NEED to. I've been so busy lately that I've not written much of anything at all and I need to do that. It's like breathing for me, an outlet. Plus, so much greatness has been happening in my life lately that I wanted to share it! I definitely had enough of the not so nice stuff earlier this year, so why not share the greatness? After rain comes the sun! :) I'm enjoying it very much--even though it's cloudy and overcast here today...which I'm also enjoying because it's rare. I love the sunshine, but it's so nice to get a break from it once in a while! It rained CATS and DOGS on Monday....and you know what I did? I faced my fear of driving in the rain! Yes, I used to be so afraid of driving in the rain, I never liked it (being from Reno you don't have to do much of that) but on Monday I got on my car and went and got new windshield wipers and drove around! It was actually quite nice...lots of traffic, slow drivers and what not, but I had Christmas music playing in the car and I was warm and toasty and it was nice!

Anyway, I really, really need to go....I need to make phone calls and do Christmas cards and pick up my bathroom (again--I'm glad I have a bathroom w/ running water to clean, though, truly), make the bed, upload photos on here....oy ve'....that's my new saying! I'm trying not to cuss, it looks bad, sounds bad, I can't do it at work and plus, it carries negative energy. So, that's that.

I hope you all have a Fabulous Friday & a great weekend! Stay safe, stay warm, have fun! Happy 6 Years in Vegas to me!!! God Bless Us Everyone!

In Light N' Love,
-Sarah Liz :)