What I did on my summer vacation...

Is it my imagination?

Is it just me or does it look like Nelly Furtado's head is not attached to her body?

Official Declaration

I hear by declare that I will no longer be attending wedding affairs* during the year 2006 including but not limited to the following: Bridal Showers, Sealings, Receptions, Ring Ceremonies, etc.

In 2005 I participated in the weddings of 8... yes EIGHT!... very dear friends, not to mention attendance of sundry receptions of not so very dear friends. On the eve of wedding #8 I hit wedding overload and had it not been the wedding of friend and family I would have bailed on it. I went. I participated. I celebrated. And then, I staged a boycott on all weddings in 2006.

Well, I didn't live up to my boycott. 2006 year to date wedding tallies:
Showers - 5 (oh the humanity!)
Sealings - 2
Receptions - 5
Ring Ceremonies - 1

That's quite enough people! I just can't take it anymore. If the wedding doesn't involve me as the bride I will have nothing to do with it. So, if you consider yourself family and/or dear friend and will be wed in 2006 then plan on me not being there. Sorry. That's just the way the boycott rolls.

* unless gainfully employed by "As You Wish Catering"

I'm sure you want to know...

I got new deodorant.
It is Secret Moonlit Rose.
It's very potent.
It smells good. But,
It's weird smelling my armpits.
I keep wondering who's perfume it is.
I tell you this because,
I know you care.

World Cup Boyfriends

Call if favoritism but if you're a guy and you tell me you play soccer, suddenly your appeal will increase seven fold. Is it no wonder that I'm in love with most of the World Cup players?

My World Cup Boyfriends (in no particular order):

• Kasey Keller, US Keeper
• Carlos Bocanegra, US Defender
• Ze Roberto, Brazil Midfielder (cool hair)
• Jose Antonio Reyes, Spain Midfielder
• Alessandro Del Piero, Italy Forward
• Fabio Cannavaro, Italy Defender
• Alexander Frei, Suisse Forward
• David Beckham, England Midfielder
• Joe Cole, England Midfielder
• Michael Owen, England Forward
• Olof Mellberg, Sweden Defender
• Marcus Allback, Sweden Forward
• Fredrik Ljungberg, Sweden Midfielder
• The whole of the Austrailian National Team

Transformation

Flashback to 1994. I was an innocent 16 year old discovering the beauty that is the FIFA World Cup. I knew every player on the US Mens National Team. I was their biggest fan. I kind of had a crush on the Keeper, Tony Meola. I thought Kobi Jones had the coolest name ever and decided that if I ever get a dog I'm going to name it after him. I loved them all. But, my favorite was the Defender, Alexi Lalas. One of the most recognizable players in US Soccer history, he was best known for his outrageous long red hair and matching goatee. I think I liked him because he was so odd looking.


Flashforward to the year 2006. I am a less innocent 24 year old (don't even try to do the math) reveling in the beauty that is the FIFA World Cup. This time around I don't know everyone on the US National Team, however my recognition of international players has dramatically increased. The biggest surprise of World Cup thus far has had nothing to do with the soccer, futbol, or football itself. But this:

WHAT? Alexi Lalas is good looking?

Lalas is serving as a World Cup commentator on ABC sports alongside fellow US Soccer greats Eric Wynalda and Julie Foudy. When I first saw him I was shocked and amazed... and quite pleased. I never would have guessed a haircut and a shave could transform this once dirty hippie into something easy on the eyes. As much as I love watching the matches live on Univision, where the only thing I understand is "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!" or "GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL!", I'll look forward to watching the live games on sunday mornings broadcast in english with the half time commentary by my new soccer boyfriend. Thank you Lalas!

Laughin' in Laughlin

I can check one more item off my "to do before i die" list:
-Go to Laughlin. CHECK!

OK, so that really wasn't on my 'tdbid' list. But, I went anyway. Conkey and I decided that our summer of whims (whimsical summer?) would start well if we went somewhere totally new and crazy... on a whim.

So, where can you go on Memorial Day Weekend when you can't leave town for the whole weekend? Jump on I95 and drive an hour and a half southwest and find yourself in the town of Laughlin, Nevada. ps- Don't bother stopping in Searchlight to visit the Historical museum because it'll most likely be closed.

Situated just north of Laughlin is Davis Dam. Best to start here. If it's Memorial Day weekend and you go to look at the dam (cuz' you just know it's just going to be so dam fun! Sorry, had to say it) don't be shocked to find millions of people 'parking lot camping' on the banks of the river and riding wave runners up and down the river. Yes, it is an awe-inspiring sight so, be sure to pull you car off to the side of the road (and don't worry about signaling because there won't be any other cars there) and then you can take all the photos you need.

We made our way into town and thought a drive through would be appropriate so that we could see exactly what we were working with. Be assured- Casino Drive is stunning*. We couldn't figure out how to get across the river without backtracking so we gave up, flipped a U-turn and headed back towards the action.

As thrilling as Laughlin is I have to admit that the outlet shopping was my favorite.

This is what finding, trying on and not buying an awesome pair of Ariat Fatbaby boots looks like:

I found some great last season clothes at the Gap and couldn't not buy them. So, I ended up spending way more than the zero dollars I'd planned on dropping there.

The shopping left us famished so we tempted our fates at the "award winning buffet" at the Edgewater Hotel and Casino. Seriously- how can you pass up an award-winning buffet?? You can't!!

The culinary delights were totally** worth our $10.99 + tax but didn’t merit tipping our waitress. We figured the “dine and (tip) dash” was better than insulting her with the 57 cents cash we had on us. We walked off our guilt and the lead based food on the boardwalk along the river and through the Colorado Belle Casino. Good times... good times.

At this point we were all funned out. We laughed our way back home charmed by the silly adventure we'd just had and with the knowledge that now that we know what is in Laughlin we never have to go back there again. Ever.

*lame
**not really

'Tis the Season

Happy Summer Everybody!
'Tis the season to put your bathing suit in your car because you never know when you'll need it. You can't live in Vegas and not find a swimming pool within a 10' radius of X (you are here).
So as not to be left out of all the daytime swimming and night time hot tubbing you've got to be prepared and have that suit ready!

maybe not...

I've reconsidered and I'm not ready to be internetally (word?) displaced quite yet. I'm sticking with the old MSN blog for now. I have so much blog-envie for the pretty, pretty blogger sites I've seen. Alas, my love of photo galleries overules all envie and has been the deciding factor in sticking with my old blog. See ya there!

http://spaces.msn.com/cropstar5

Contemplating Conversion

I'm moving into a new house next week. This week I think I'll move to a new internet home. This one.