Pat and Bee's Life

At the speed of crazy!


Sunday, February 19, 2006

God Works In Mysterious Ways

I got this email tonight:
You are my 7 in 7 seconds. I am not breaking this. No way! I'M TOLD THIS WORKS!!!!! just repeat this prayer and see how God moves!!


"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen."


Pass this message to 7 people {EXCEPT YOU AND ME}. You will receive a miracle tomorrow. I Hope that you don't ignore and let God bless you.


"Integrity Comes First!"

uhm....oki. Apparently God is now bound to the power of the internet, and to harness that power, I simply have to forward an email to a random 7 people. If I forward it to 20 people maybe I can get myself a free sin?

Please guys...spare me. Seriously.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Feb 15th. Mom's Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!!
Hope all is well, and that you had a great day. Both Pat and I wish you the bestest birthday evah!

In other news: Pat is still out on travel, and I am here alone with cheeto's, pizza, clearance valentine's day chocolate, and Mario Party! WOO!

Monday, February 13, 2006

Tovin's Beginning's

Let me tell you about Tovin. Tovin was born the day after Ultima Online launched the Sonoma server, I'm really not sure when that was!.

Created on the Sonoma shard of the game, I needed a name that was feminine and yet seemed able to handle wandering of the wilderness alone. I did a Alta Vista search for the name and came up with one researcher somewhere with the last name of Tovin, and thought, this is the most perfect name ever. I've been this name ever since.

Tovin spent her UO life doing many things, but the one I am most proud of is her work with the Sonoma Counselor's Hall.

The Beginning

I had finally made enough money to buy a tower in UO, and in those days, it was expensive, and a wonderful accomplishment for me. I was so excited!! Someone at the West Brit Bank (in game) announced they were selling a tower, and I wanted it! So I gave him money, and expected my tower deed while the guy wandered off and laughed.

After almost throwing my monitor against the wall, I paged in game support, expecting an email or an invisible character to talk to me. Lo and Behold, a blue robed character appeared in front of me, named Stormsong. Immediately he was mobbed by the bank going characters. The question, "Can I have your robe?" was the most popular, but he was simply bombarded. He took me to the side and explained that I had fallen victim to a simple trick that was allowed under game rules, since there was no exploit or bug, it was simply that I was uninformed. He was nice and wonderful, and I fell in love. I wanted a blue robe.

Immediately after that moment, I went to the Counselors Hall in Brit, and found it empty. The counselors hall was behind the mage shop, and it was empty! I hung out there, talking to myself, waiting for an invisible GM or Counselor to pop out and talk to me! No one ever came. After a 4 hour wait, I gave up and logged out. I spent a lot of time in game after that wandering around between Yew and Britannia, avoiding players at all costs since I died at the drop of a hat, killing afk people (MWA HA HA) and picking up all regents that I found.

I sheared every sheep I ever came across, a dangerous trip in the Yew sheepyards, since it only had one opening and I could be killed within moments if someone saw me. I used the wool that I sheared to make cloth, which was then cut up and used either as bandages for wounded players coming into town, or to make clothing. That's right. Tovin was a tailor and a healer, with VERY high hiding skill.

I was always drawn to the Counselors Hall though, and I often returned. I began putting out food, and tables, with games and items. I spent hours there, sometimes 8 at a time, to help new players that thought, obviously, that they could find help from Counselors at the Counselors Hall.

Finding information was always my forte, and while I didn't know all the answers, I did know where to find them. I used Stratics for most of my information, and may I just say, I am XenaDragon's biggest fan!!!

I began spending all of my playtime at the hall, and I enjoyed myself tremendously. One day, 2 blue robes popped in. I was ecstatic!! One was the counselor I had originally met, and the other...well I don't remember his name, unfortunately. It was, after all, almost 9 years ago.

They hopped in said hi, asked what I was doing, and thought it was great, since the server (Sonoma) only had a few counselors on, and it was a volunteer position, they couldn't be helping people all the time, and I had no life and spent 8-10 hours online a day!



The Middle


Tovin worked her speech of the dead skills, and healing skills, and made clothes for the newbies that would come to the Hall looking for help. I constantly brought chars, food, tables, etc to the Hall, to flair it up a bit, and have a very homey, welcoming feel for everyone that came.

Every now and then the counselors would hop in and say hi, and spend a few seconds between calls chatting. I ended up spending more time then I care to remember in that hall. I loved it. I met a lot of very nice people, got involved with a lot of the community, and really enjoyed the time I got to spend there. Eventually, the tables got locked down with the games I had to keep re-supplying when random griefers would walk in and steal everything I had used to decorate the hall with.

A throne appeared, along with several long tables, several chess tables, and decorations on the walls. It was wonderful. I don't remember if it was the first decoration sweep that included bread, cheese, and drink for our Hall comers, but I know they were added at some point.

Tika and Revo, the Senior Counselors for Sonoma popped in every now and then, for very short periods of time, to say hi, and chat. But the staffing levels for Counselors at that time was so limited that there was no way that they could keep up with what was going on. At that point, counselor applications were released! Alas, I did not qualify! The age minimum was 25, and I was about to turn only 21.

The End


After begging everyone I could find, letters to UO, and basically crying my eyes out because I was about to miss the opportunity that I wanted so badly, UO came to my rescue!

I was allowed into the Counselor program!!!!!!! Tika had arranged for me to take part in the program on Castkills, headed by Senior Counselor (SRC) Terendil. I was added to the ranks of Blue Robes as Counselor Lady Jade. I spent hours and hours in IRC and ingame, answering more questions with my cool blue robe then I care to remember.

I was awarded a jester's hat by a GM once, and ran around thinking I was just so cool! I loved my position as a counselor, a community member, and an addicted UO player! My Assistant Senior Counselors (ASRC's) Alazar, and Braveheart were awesome, and I love them!! There were, of course, other counselors, other src's, and other asrc's, but those are the ones that stick out in my mind.

I eventually moved to the Oceania server as it opened up, and though I was offered the SRC of training position, I left the program before I took it.

The Counselor program was in the process of consolidating cross-server queues, when I left. And the program was dopped within 3 months of my leaving.

I truly treasure the time I spent as a counselor. I met a lot of great players, and worked with a lot of great Counselors. It gave me a lot of experience in IRC, leading online communities, and just basically being involved in customer service.

I left UO several times, but the Trammel/Feluca split was my last straw. During my time as a counselor, I met Counselor Weasel on Sonoma one day, in the Sonoma counselor's IRC room. He and his family are some of my closest friends, and people I love, respect, and have adopted into my family.

Tovin has gone on to be the main name that I use across online games, and online persona's. I respond to the name, I respond to Jade as well. They are me, and I am them, and I miss the days of UO a bit sometimes when I think of how much of me I put into Tovin.

Tovin is now a part of my life, and I love her!

Sunday, February 12, 2006

It's FRIDAY!

I would like to introduce you all to my friend Christina!

She works in layaway! She's cool and I adore working with her! She has a bad habit of waiting until I pass layaway, make my way to the front of the store and to the CSM podium before calling me back to layaway. She's been helping in our domestics department, which desperately needs it, and anyway, she's cool!

In other news: today is friday!!!!!!!! I am so happy!! Pat and I got to go to breakfast together, and we're very much looking forward to going out of town on the 20th.


Interesting links:

Web Sudoku - Pat is addicted

The Castle Game! - WOO!

Go Rving.com - I'd go RV'ing if I didn't have to drive something a million times the size of Prelude.

Shades of Green - The military hotel at Walt Disney World.

Disney Discussion Boards - For everything from Disney Cruise Line to the parks!

How Playing Monopoly leads to family issues!

Talk Like A Pirate Day! - I'm having a TLAPD party! MAYBE! LOL!

Ridgecrest Earthquakes


We've got to get invitations out this Monday (tomorrow), and of course, I have a ton of Stratics stuff to do! Hope everyone had a safe and wonderful weekend!!! *dances*

Saturday, February 11, 2006

New Wedding Plans....Again!

All right, so Pat and I changed plans yet again! MWA HA HA! We're good at that!

Here are the new, and almost completely full-proof plans!

We arrive in Nevada on April 26th. We're staying at Whiskey Pete's which is a Primm Valley Resort. All 3 resorts are owned by MGM/Mirage. We intend to play some craps, some blackjack, get pretty hammered and enjoy the fact that we're embarking on our official life together, even though we've been together 3 years!

On April 27th we check out of Whiskey Pete's, and head over to the Four Queens in Downtown Las Vegas! We get checked in and then head to McCarran International Airport to pick up our friend, Adrian. Adrian and Pat went to school together and we'll be basically partying it up in Vegas!


My personal plans include $3 Blackjack at El Cortez, Craps at Casino Royale, walking the strip with a margarita in hand and laughing at the tourists who are taking pictures of the cabs! Of course, who knows what Pat and Adrian have in mind. Hopefully it involves BJ and rum and diets!

On April 28th Pat, Adrian and myself will check out the chapel and make sure all is good. We'll pick up our wedding license, and do all the driving around, since we'll probably all not be in a partying mood so early.

We'll head to the strip and probably play at Boardwalk or maybe Imperial Palace and Harrah's. Then we'll head over to Caesars Palace and make sure they have enough room for us all for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. We'll plan for dinner between 6 and 7ish I'm sure, and then we have show reservations for 10:30.


On Saturday April 29th at 2:30pm at the Shalimar Wedding Chapel Pat and I will exchange vows and make our committment public and official! Immediately after we'll meet outside the chapel for pictures with friends and family and everyone together, and then we'll meet for a reception/dinner around 6:30ish (still tentative). The dinner will most likely be held downtown, since that's where we're staying, and after dinner Pat and I will yet again, be partying it up at the blackjack tables!! WOO!

Before the wedding the only thing I really need to do is get my hair done, and enough makeup so that the pictures will come out properly.

Sunday, April 30th we take Adrian to the airport, and head off for home an official married couple!!! WHEEEEEEEEE

May 1st we leave Ridgecrest for San Pedro, where our Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Monarch of the Seas departs sometime in the evening! Our 4 day cruise will hit San Diego, the island of Catalina, and the Mexican port of Ensenada where we're taking the La Bufadora excursion! Just a small note here. Once, we went to Ensenada to visit family. I remember spending time with my Aunt Becky while everyone else went elsewhere. That time with her is so very special to me, as she was always surrounded by people, but went out of her way to make room and time for little me. I dread going. Anytime I think my aunt, I cry. I miss her. And I love the person that she was, and the strength that she taught me when she was alive.

On May 5th we arrive back in San Pedro, and we start the drive back home!!

I'll be off work from April 24th through May 15th. So I get 2 full weeks of playing housewife and taking care of my honey. We're open to suggestions on times or restaurants for get togethers! There's also lots of cool things to do in Vegas, even if you're not interested in drinking or gambling, which I can NOT understand at all, but to each his own!!


If anyone has any questions, let me know! Here's the list of the invitee's! Not sure if everyone can make it yet!

  • My Mom and Dad (Al and Vicki)
  • My sister and her boyfriend (Beth and Johnny)
  • My brother and sister-in-law (Nathan and Jenelle)
  • Pat's Mom and Dad (John and MariLu)
  • Pat's sister and brother-in-law (Jo and Mike)
  • Adopted family - Steven, and John and Lisa.
  • My Bestest friend Tawnia
  • Pat's Bestest friend Adrian






Good sites for Vegas info:

Cheapo Vegas

Vegas Shows

Hoover Dam

Las Vegas Sun (Vegas Newspaper)

Official City Site

Vegas Strip Map

Cool Guide to Vegas

Another Strip Map

Thursday, February 09, 2006

3 Years! WOW!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!!!!!!

Today marks 3 years that Pat and I have been together. What an awesome 3 years it's been. I bought Pat a card and wrote him a little letter, and I hid it in his dresser so he'd find it this morning while getting ready for work. While I want to get off work early to spend the evening with him, I'm not sure how well my paycheck will that it, since I haven't worked a full 40 hour week in quite a while! GO ME!

My friend Tawnia:

Image hosting by TinyPic

I'm so proud of her, she's quit smoking!!! GO TAWNIA!!!!

BTW, in that picture, she thought I was out of film. She doesn't normally walk around looking like that! She's the one I went to Disneyland with back in October. We need to plan another trip. Maybe to Laughlin to go out and have fun with her toys. I've never met another woman with such an amazing collection of very cool toys!

In other stuff, last night marked a huge frustration for me at work and I'm not sure how to deal with it. I'm so frustrated with spending my two days a week in a department working on projects only to come back and have everything all screwed up. I know that's the nature of retail...but geez people, could you put stuff back where you find it?! *cries*

I've started a game called Seed, which just entered beta about a week ago. It's a lot of fun! I'm still playing Camelot though. I don't see myself leaving it. I'm trying really hard to get a wiki up for it, similar to what Wikipedia is. But I can't figure out the wiki text to use. I barely know HTML, and I'm trying to learn something entirely different. It's very hard, and I'm getting discouraged. I want to make a difference in the DAoC community, and I really think this will work. I hate the Camelot Vault boards which are filled with flaming, rude, unhelpful posts. I want to make DAoC Stratics a place where people can go for help, but my time is so filled with other things with Stratics I can't give it the attention I want!! I just need to buckle down I guess.

Today is DPSS's (Pat's group at work) lunch, so we're meeting at Subway to talk and hang out, and then I'll go to work and talk with my department manager Alley (well, her name is Sheri but there's to many Sheri's at work, and there was once 2 in the department as well as one Cheri! So it's confusing! So we call her Alley), about the problems I'm having at work, and hopefully she can clear things up.

I've decided I'm really gonna buckle down at work and do well. I've kinda been slacking since Christmas, but I need to change that, and so today starts my new plan of working 100% at least 80% of the day! WOO!

Hope everyone has a fun weekend, and a great time!!!

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Wait Years For A Trip? I Think NOT!

Pat and I are so different it's funny. Pat loves his house and wants it to be nice and beautiful and to put all our time, effort and money into it. Me on the other hand....a house is what you come home too after trekking across the nation!

We want to replace the flooring in our entryway, dining room and kitchen with wood laminate. For me, that can wait til we get a newer car for me and visit Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland, Cabo San Lucas, Disneyworld, New York, Washington D.C., Bryce and Zion canyons, Estes Park, and a whole slew of other places.

Pat however, wants to do Universal in a few years.....YEARS! I can't live years without a trip. I'll die.

His idea of a vacation is to spend time with his family. Now, that's a GREAT trip, and it's a fun time, especially since they're cool and live close to cool places. But no where did he say doing the things in Tennessee he knows I want to do!

There's Dollywood, the Knoxville Opera, Pigeon Forge, The Great Smokey Mountains, Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry, and Graceland. I'm not an Elvis fan, but it'd be nice to see what all the fuss is about!

Anyway, our next trip is of course, the wedding!! For those plans, see this post!

I've got pictures of my fellow associates coming up this week, along with lots of new and slightly cool things!

Everyone have a great day! Countdown to our third anniversary: one day!!

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Today's News!

In today's interesting news:

Apple has new plans for a cheaper iPod Nano, and is lowering the price on their Shuffle hardware. Originally $99 bucks, the Shuffle is now going to be $69. Check out this Mercury News story about it!


This Orlando Sentinel story shows the big news (for me) about Disney's big turn around with their theme park revenue! Apparently the 50th anniversary stuff has been good for them! And it was fun!


News.com has this story about the AOL and Yahoo plans for paid email non-spam delivery. Apparently people are saying it will erode freedoms and such stuffs. The solution? SWITCH EMAIL PROVIDERS! If you use AOL or Yahoo, switch!!! :) Be sure to tell them WHY you're switching! And then watch as they suddenly change their minds!


The Detroit Free Press has a story about GM's money issues!

Next year, GM will reassess the health care benefits for retired white-collar workers, and consider program changes such as higher monthly contributions, deductibles, coinsurance and other options.

Google, being the cool thing that it is, has this announcement from Reuters! Apparently, they're pushing the envelope yet again!


ABC News has a story about Coke loosing moola. Maybe if they made something as yummy as Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper they wouldn't have a problem!!


Of course, this story about child tooth issues in California will lead to a Medi-Cal type program for dental stuff. Sigh, there goes more tax money!

Monday, February 06, 2006

Valentines Day Plans? Who The Heck Cares!!!

Pat is leaving for St. Louis on Valentines Day! Since our anniversary is on Feb 9th, it's really not that big of a deal, and though we talked about postponing his trip, we don't have any plans for the day, and I don't think his group can afford to postpone this trip anyway. That means I'll be all by myself that week, and the 15th is a huge meeting for work!!

Since I work nights, I'll have to say goodnight to Pat on my lunches (5:30-6:30 Wed-Sun) so that I don't want him when I get home from work at 11pm and wake him up!! I'm not sure why he's going. Something about a verification of software, yada, yada, yada. If I could understand that stuff, I'd be working on base instead of at Wal-Mart! LOL!

My wedding was once planned for 5 days from today. Talk about scary, I'm no where near ready!!! Tawnia is keeping my dress safe for me! I still need to buy shoes and such, but I'm more worried about clothing for the cruise! WOO!!

This week in Dark Age of Camelot:
Adra my little bard completed a quest called Circle of Five, or Co5. It was a grueling 4 hour raid with 32 people. In that time, I only had to /ignore one person! Pretty impressive!!!

Yaeina has been being powerleveled by Pat, for who knows what reason. I think he enjoys PvE more then PvP because you can jump in game and do something without hours of wait and a few deaths before you do something cool!

Melip is my mentalist, and I've been working spellcrafting with him. It was originally Pat's character on my account. That's the only reason I'm playing my first and only male character ever, in an mmo!

Here's another fun Ridgecrest Blog I've been keeping up with and his marriage advice entry is one of the truest and funniest things I've ever read! Recently he linked to this blog that's also fun to read!

In other news! Google, the coolest thing since the net, has blocked the German BMW site from showing up in any search index used by anything using google technology!! WOO! Stupid companies using underhanded tactics to get their sites to show up over a more qualified site! Good for Google!! WOO

Anyway, I'm out of more news, and should go do more housework so Pat and I can hang out tonight and enjoy the pleasure of each other's company while kicking some serious pixel butt in PvP tonight! *waves*

Associates Cut From Wal-Mart Circular - WM Admits Defeat, Caves To Outside Pressure!!!

One of the things I have always loved about Wal-Mart is that they use their own associates in their monthly advertisements. No longer....and I hate it.

Starting this month, we've started using models. Who knows why. Maybe the actors guilds got mad that we weren't paying our associates extra for modeling time. Maybe to keep the press off our backs about something else stupid. But regardless of the reason, it made my eyes a little moist when I realized what they had done.

We are drilled with the idea that our assoicates make the difference, as seen here on Wal-Mart Facts. Our computer-based learning stuff (CBL's) never stop with the "You guys are so great and we love you, and please keep making us millions of dollars while we suck the soul from your very being" baloney.

To me, seeing our associates and their friends and family in the ad (what we call "tab"...I don't know why!), was FUN! It was different!!! And now, it's gone. How totally, and utterly retarded.

Wal-Mart is so caving to the preassure of the industry, the media, and the left wing nuts who only want all large businesses to be penalized for doing capitolism the right way. We have given over our top exec jobs to people from Home Depot and Target. Which isn't all bad. Competitors do things right, and we need to learn from them, and change to maintain an edge! But we don't want to become them. I like being "us". And I like being on top.

We have allowed ourselves to give in to the mass attacks, our associates being treated as if working there assures low wages, no hope of moving up, and truly....being accused of being nothing but low class scum who can't find another job.

To most of Wal-Mart's detractors (not all mind you, Wal-Mart does do some pretty stupid stuff), I have this to say to you!

STFU!

I am TIRED of hearing people complain FOR me that my medical coverage is bad. I know it's bad!!! Well, it's not horrible, but it is bad. There's no prenatal care until this year, and even that is pretty crappy. Going to the doctor to find out I had a pinched nerve cost me $175. There's so little preventive care I end up paying over 75% of the cost for my yearly girly checkups and such. But if I complain about it, THAT'S MY RIGHT!! I work there! And things are getting better, and if I don't like it......I can get a job elsewhere!!!! DUH!

I don't need people telling me that quite a few associates are on Medi-Cal! I've considered getting pregnant and telling people I don't know who the dad is, just so that I can go to the dr's whenever my little toe bothers me a bit. Stupid huh? Then why does our federal and state goverments allow such stupid things, and why do idiots blame Wal-Mart associates for being smart about taking advantage of such a really screwed up way of doing things??

The new law in Maryland that forces Wal-Mart to give money for associate healthcare actually helped (check this out!!) 0.5% of all residents in that state. OMG PEOPLE! WE'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THAT STATE BY FORCING THE EVIL CORPORATION (singular, thank you.), TO PAY!!! MWA HA HA

Sad thing is, whatever money doesn't go towards covering the associates medical care (estimated to be about 200k a year for care with a 300-500k windfall) has to be donated to the state. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.....greedy blood sucking idiots. And even bigger idiots are the people who voted for those who pushed that law into place!!! I think it's funny and sad at the same time!

Anyway. My point? Unions need to leave my poor little store alone. I did nothing to you but try to take care of my associates, and my customers. Why you gotta get retarded and mean because we did it better then you, with a better business plan, a lower cost, and a smarter way? Oh right.....cause you're stupid.

To my company: Bring back the associates in the ads! It makes our corporation different, that we involve associates ONLY in our advertising, from circulars to commercials. Why change that? Why make our business something we are not, so we can fit in. Poor Sam is turning in his grave....while his kids mop up the money faster then you'd believe.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Wedding Details!!

My wedding dress has arrived! WOO!

I struggled with what accessories to buy. Gloves, a purse, shawl, wing tipped boots....oh wait, no. But I really just want simple. I want 16/17 of my closest friends and my family to join Pat and I as we officially declare what we're already privately committed to each other.

My dress is from Roberta Bridal. It is the periwinkle color shown here. The style isn't shown here. But it's adorable, and I love it!!

Mom wanted to know the details, since our invitations have gotten a little tied up. So I thought I'd write it all here for everyone who would like to know!

We arrive in Nevada on April 26th. We're staying at Whiskey Pete's which is a Primm Valley Resort. All 3 resorts are owned by MGM/Mirage. We intend to play some craps, some blackjack, get pretty hammered and enjoy the fact that we're embarking on our official life together, even though we've been together 3 years!

On April 27th we check out of Whiskey Pete's, and head over to the Four Queens in Downtown Las Vegas! We get checked in and then head to McCarran International Airport to pick up our friend, Adrian. Adrian and Pat went to school together and we'll be basically partying it up in Vegas!

My plans include $3 Blackjack at El Cortez, Craps at Casino Royale, walking the strip with a margarita in hand and laughing at the tourists who are taking pictures of the cabs!

On April 28th we're planning a dinner for the friends and families that will be in town on Friday night! We haven't decided yet, but we'll probably go with The Cheesecake Factory or Olive Garden. But a new possibility presented itself last night, when a friend who just recently moved from Vegas recommended the Prime Rib Loft at The Orleans. So we'll see what happens. If you have a preference, please use the comment button below to speak your mind, or feel free to email me.

On Saturday April 29th at 2:30pm at the Shalimar Wedding Chapel Pat and I will exchange vows and make our committment public and official! Immediately after we'll meet outside the chapel for pictures with friends and family and everyone together, and then we'll meet for a reception/dinner around 6:30ish. Pat has told me he has a surprise for me that evening.....perverts!! We'll need to be free sometime around 9:30ish.

Sunday, April 30th we take Adrian to the airport, and head off for home an official married couple!!! WHEEEEEEEEE

May 1st we leave Ridgecrest for San Pedro, where our Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Monarch of the Seas departs sometime in the evening! Our 4 day cruise will hit San Diego, the island of Catalina, and the Mexican port of Ensenada where we're taking the La Bufadora excursion! Just a small note here. Once, we went to Ensenada to visit family. I remember spending time with my Aunt Becky while everyone else went elsewhere. That time with her is so very special to me, as she was always surrounded by people, but went out of her way to make room and time for little me. I dread going. Anytime I think my aunt, I cry. I miss her. And I love the person that she was, and the strength that she taught me when she was alive.

On May 5th we arrive back in San Pedro, and we start the drive back home!!

I'll be off work from April 24th through May 15th. So I get 2 full weeks of playing housewife and taking care of my honey. We're open to suggestions on times or restaurants for get togethers! There's also lots of cool things to do in Vegas, even if you're not interested in drinking or gambling, which I can NOT understand at all, but to each his own!!


If anyone has any questions, let me know! Here's the list of the invitee's! Not sure if everyone can make it yet!

  • My Mom and Dad (Al and Vicki)
  • My sister and her boyfriend (Beth and Johnny)
  • My brother and sister-in-law (Nathan and Jenelle)
  • Pat's Mom and Dad (John and MariLu)
  • Pat's sister and brother-in-law (Jo and Mike)
  • Adopted family - Steven, and John and Lisa.
  • My Bestest friend Tawnia
  • Pat's Bestest friend Adrian






Good sites for Vegas info:

Cheapo Vegas

Vegas Shows

Hoover Dam

Las Vegas Sun (Vegas Newspaper)

Official City Site

Cheapo Vegas

Cool Guide to Vegas

Happy Birthday Beth!

I would like to mention my sister's birthday, and thank her for coming out to visit us! The first of my family to see our house! WOO! It was awesome to get to talk to her, and we've both changed so much over the years, she's amazing. My sister and I get along very well, compared to how it was when we were little.

I love her completely, and I'm glad she took the time out of her schedule to come and visit and to spend time with us.

Beth, it was awesome seeing you again. Please be safe in all you do, and know that Pat and I love you! *dances*

I hate Ridgecrest - kinda

Let me tell you a bit more about Ridgecrest. I hate it. The town is small, for 25k people, we have a remarkable amount of nothing. A Wal-Mart, a K-Mart, a Mervyn's, some fast food places, one or two...okay, one chain sit down restraunt - and it's a Sizzler! YECH!

The sand, the wind, the people who are either on welfare or filthy rich from working on base for 20 years and bought their house for a dollar. Those houses are now worth 250k, by the way. The rude shop owners who do nothing but complain that Wal-Mart puts them out of business. (Note: If you weren't so freaking rude, maybe more people would shop at your store....duh?)

The heat in the summer is unbearable. Seriously, what human lives in 117ยบ heat? The lack of trees, grass, and the overwhelming amount of desert poisonous creep-crawlies.

The horrible city planning that went into the decision to build a naval base here, the fact that we don't live anywhere NEAR a freeway, and that the nearest area to do any decent shopping of any sort is an hour and a half away. The cost of groceries is outrageous! (Come on Super Wal-Mart, COME ON!) My job truly sucks, and I have no hope of moving up with a bunch of people who've worked there 13 years and shouldv'e been demoted 10 years ago. Until they die, I'm basically not moving up. YAY!

The houses in areas are painted exactly alike! It's just overall, a city I never think I'll truly even want to belong to, much less fit into well.

But right now, there's no talk of moving away, for a few rather tenuous reasons. The money is good for Pat, and the job can't be outsourced. Basically, he'd have to kill several people or walk around with a camera phone to get fired. He lives 10 minutes from work, with no traffic in between, unless he gets caught behind a tractor going 5 mph on the 35 mph road where everyone goes 60. In which case, when he gets home, he's amusing to listen to!

We bought our house last November, and we both love it, and since then, the value has skyrocketed. But since Ridgecrest is controlled completely by the base, who knows how long that will last.

BRAC has promised us 2,500 jobs, but the fighting with people in Pt. Magu and places in Ventura county who don't want to live here has begun, and there are people saying we'll be lucky to not move jobs. No one wants to come here, and the government will lose years and years of experience in people who won't relocate. Only a few people make a site visit here out of college and decide to come here. Those who do tend to come here because friends from college are here, and there's a happening party scene. Let's face it, if you're here, might as well be an alcoholic. There's nothing else to do!

But let's face it. Moving would be a disaster right now! Our home is here, our life is here! This is us whether we like it or not. But even so, it's not really that bad.

We get a lot of free time to play computer together. Puppy can spend the nights in the summer outside and I won't worry about him freezing. And we're together, building our life together, happily. What more does one need?