My very first video blog...

Hey everyone! Long time no blog, but many posts are on their way... and tons of pictures too! Alright first off this video blog needs a disclaimer. Since I don't use my web cam- ever- this video gets blurry. I probably shouldn't have the camera on my bed, but I'll save that piece of advice for the second vlog. And hey... it can only get better from here! ;)



Bisous! xoxox

www.lavolv.com

(Red Carpet Photo Credit: Aaron Thompson)

www.dreamteampoker.com

(Dream Team Yo Mama: Tiffany Michelle, Moi, Maria

Ho; Photo Credit: BJ Nemeth)

30 things to do on my Birthday

These past two days have been a dream come true. I'm having the best time of my life with the sister I've always wanted. Alex gave me one of the best presents I've ever received: 30 things to do on my 30th birthday. Two days in and we have already gone through almost all of them plus more. I want to list everything and keep twittering, but I also want to enjoy this short amount of time here. I've been forcing myself to stay in the moment lately and not think of past or the unknown future. As a result each minute of this birthday getaway has been a gift. I'm the happiest I've ever been in my entire life!!

Birthday Blog! It's the big 3 oh!!

First I'd like to thank everyone for all the Birthday wishes and love sent via Email, Facebook and Twitter. I seriously can't stop smiling!! It's overwhelming how many people I do have in my life that care and support me. I'm ashamed of myself for isolating and pulling away from everyone when things were falling apart and couldn't snap out of my depression. I'm forever grateful to have each and everyone of you in my life. You will never know how much love I have for those who never left my side no matter how hard I pushed them away. Thank you will never be enough to express my gratitude.

On a lighter note... I have a little bit of time to squeeze in a preview blog while I'm sitting in McCarran airport heading to Vancouver, BC! Yay! Last night I spent a good amount of time writing out what turned into a very emotional blog. I'd like to spend a little more quality time with it as I really poured my heart into explaining my life up to this point. Things have been an uphill battle and it's never been easy to get here, but somehow I made it. Granted I'm still not where I'd like to be at the ripe ol age of 30, but I've forgotten about all the great things I've accomplished. All joking aside I've had a childhood fear that I would never make it to today. Some sick gut feeling that I would never see 30 would repeat over and over in my head especially as a teenager. And here I am! No one will ever really understand I guess, but if you saw the life I've had to live one might think that I would be long gone by now too. But all that is in the big blog and boy is it big. (That's what she said!)

Now for the most important thing... I get to see my BFFF Alex Lee Behan (http://www.alexleebehan.com/) in just a few hours! (BFFF is a Pineapple Express reference: Best Fucking Friends Forever) I couldn't even think of a better birthday present. If you've read my previous blogs you'd know how excited I am and that I really wouldn't be here today with out this amazing woman in my life. Be expecting lots of updates on my Twitter page: www.twitter.com/LaceyJones and many blog posts to come! And one more thing... Mommy I love you and thank you for bringing me into this crazy world.

Procrastination = Blogs

Is it me or are the boxes in my new place multiplying? Almost 1/2 of the house is unpacked and in it's proper place. The other half just sits there as I stare at them wishing I could wrinkle my nose like Samantha and they'd disappear. Ugh. Moving sucks. Although I am quite happy and content in my new surroundings. The way the light enters the house makes the energy uplifting and welcoming. Much unlike the old place where there never seemed to be any rays of light creeping in through the windows resembling something like a hidden cave.

Right now it seems as though everything is happening as it should with my life. Maybe not as fast as I would like, but I must remind myself patience is a virtue. If I can apply that to when I play poker every time, why can't I do that with my career?? Again I'm bound from saying too much about what's coming up. Within the next few days I'll be able to be more open about everything, including the blog I've been saving for the right time on what happened last year and why I've been missing. And to be honest I didn't realize anyone read my blogs except for my mom and my best friend Alex. I would love to hear feedback from friends that read this blog. Tell me what you'd like me to be writing about as well. Believe me these days I'd much rather write a blog than unpack these menacing boxes.

Friday I took a break from unpacking and decided to head down to Caesar's Palace where the NBC National Heads Up was being held. It was my first time being back around poker friends with the exception of Borgata in January. Many people whom I haven't seen since November last year. I felt that this was the best time, if any to get back into my groove. And what better place to say hello to everyone all at once, right? Well maybe the draw party at Pure, but I opted not to go to the night before as I'm trying my best to avoid clubs and partying too much. I'm staying focused and have my eye on the prize.

I walked into the poker room and my heart began to ache from missing poker so much. I saw so many friends and couldn't help but notice the butterflies in my stomach from the excitement. People that I not just adore but have admired for years were coming up to me saying hello and genuinely asking how I've been. It felt so right to be back and I truly can not wait til the WSOP this summer. 2009 is going to be a huge year just you wait and see! My decsion to not run away from poker was the correct one and I'm so happy that I took the time to make the right choice. For now I will still continue living in Las Vegas and hold off on the move to Vancouver, BC until I feel it's the best option. I will however be back and forth to recharge my batteries whenever I get free time. Yay!

Time to go back to boxes. Only have two days before I leave for Reno with Alex! I'll be playing in Jennifer Harman's charity poker tournament rasing money for the National Kidney Foundation. Lisa Wheeler is running this event so we know it's going to be a fun one. I can't wait! I promise this time you'll be hearing much more from me in my blogs... and this time I mean it!

All I can say is it's good to be back!

It's official...

I have way too many clothes!!

I'm almost completely moved out of my little place called home... and what a home it was! The bare walls and empty bedrooms make this house seem unfamiliar and bleak. Packing away my things I repeatedly smiled to myself in gratitude for each memoir I've kept over the years. Mr. Teddy you're old!! Not being one for dust collectors I pride myself in keeping my place simple, but the things I do have are special, each and every one. Even the paintings and sketches I've done bring me more happiness than one should. They're not like my Dali (my pride and joy), but they're pretty damn good for a little Texas Blondie. *Mental note: add "take more art classes" to the list of random things to do with my down time.

Excitement has finally replaced the anxiety that was creeping in earlier this week. Moving sucks. Alas, everything is almost done! I can't wait to move into this new place I'll soon call home. This is my time to make a much needed change. Time to become a butterfly. A brand new Lacey is about to shine my friends. Better get your shades. ;)

xo
Lacey

P.S. Mommy this picture is for you -Click on it so you don't need your glasses. I finally got the photos from the show. :) Love you!

P.S.S. Alex, yet again I couldn't have done any of this without you. You're the best! Je t'aime!!

Redbull sucks

Over the past few days I've been taking a bit of personal time to do only the things that make me happy. Having to work on the Real Deal 6 days a week I sandwich my "fun" time around the show. It seems to be working as my spirit feels lighter and I have a constant smile on my face.

I've come to the realization that I need to focus more on myself and be happier with the situation I'm in at the moment... regardless of being on my own. Granted it's quite lonely living here in Vegas, but at least I'm finding out the things that I like to do.

Here are just a few of the things I've been doing to keep me at peace or at least sane:

* Working on new jigsaw puzzles
* Hanging out at Borders looking for new books to read
* Going to the gym
* Yoga
* Listening to My Morning Jacket on repeat
* Watching both season finales of Dexter and Californication while drinking instant Tim Hortons' French Vanilla... the best!!
* Bubble baths
* Doing my new dance workout to Lady GaGa
* Staring out the window for literally hours watching the snow fall
* Eating at my favorite Pho place while reading quantum physics (reminds my of my days at UofA)
*Midnight hockey game with my lil sis and 5,000 drunk hockey fans

Finally!

No more bumming out for this girl! I've had the most amazing day (blog soon to come) and all because I put my foot down after reading this quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer: Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.

Also it helped that my mom has now jumped on the band wagon of sending mass emails, but managed to send me the funniest thing I've heard/read in a long time. Talking (more like crying) to her two days ago she told me to check my email and I'd find something that would get me to snap out of it, if only for a few minutes. I thought I would share with the rest of you to start this blog off right. It will totally make you laugh:

SAYING GOODBYE TO MOTHER......

You Don't Have To Own A Cat To Appreciate This One! You don't even
have to like them.


We were dressed and ready to go out for the New Years Eve Party.We
turned on a night light, turned the answering machine on,covered our
pet parakeet and put the cat in the backyard.

We phoned the local cab company and requested a taxi. The taxi arrived and we opened the front door to leave the house.

The cat that we had put out in the yard, scoots back into the house. We didn't want the cat shut in the house because she always tries to eat the bird.

My wife goes out to the taxi, while I went inside to get the cat. The
cat runs upstairs, with me in hot pursuit. Waiting in the cab, my wife
doesn't want the driver to know that the house will be empty for the
night. So, she explains to the taxi driver that I will be out soon,
'He's just going upstairs to say goodbye to my mother.'

A few minutes later, I get into the cab. 'Sorry I took so long,' I
said, as we drove away.
'That stupid bitch was hiding under the bed. I had to
poke her with a coat hanger to get her to come out! She tried to take
off, so I grabbed her by the neck. Then, I had to wrap her in a
blanket to keep her from scratcing me.
But it worked! I hauled her fat ass
downstairs and threw her out into the back yard!'

The cab driver hit a parked car.

Live Well...Love Much...Laugh Often

Bummin out in Vegas

Well I left y'all hanging again and I must apologize. Things have been quite hectic and almost impossible to catch up. Sadly I've been a little bummed out as well and I can't stand writing when I'm down. I really enjoy writing good news and posting random funny blogs for my friends and family... at least I think my blogs are funny.

Honestly this past holiday was not easy on me and being alone on Thanksgiving really sucked. I had to work on the show that week and I'm not used to being tied down to Vegas longer than a month. (Thank goodness for my Vancouver trip or I might have gone insane!) Really why do we need to celebrate this holiday when everyday we should be grateful for our life, family and friends? Yet the more I told myself that, the more bummed I got. I decided to turn my phone off to stop the incessant flood of mass texts saying "Happy Thanksgiving!" Making yummy spaghetti I watched football and old episodes of The Office and went to bed. - Mommy I promise I won't miss next year's Thanksgiving.

I'm finishing up a bunch of blogs for pokerlistings about playing up in Vancouver for the BC Poker Championship and also about working on The Real Deal. Be expecting those very soon. Lots of fun stuff... just had to wait to snap out of this funk to finish writing on a chipper note.

Here's something to lighten the mood and make you laugh. Last night on CBC in Canada I appeared on This hour has 22 minutes with Raj Binder ( Shaun Majumder) and few of my good friends.


For more funny comedy check out
This hour has 22 minutes

What a day!

I'm home after a verrrry long day my friends. I feel like the energizer bunny that keeps going and going. Thank the Lord for redbull and coffee as I'm going on 3 hours of sleep! Last night I hosted a party at The Bank for the 4 year anneversary of BLUFF and the November cover I did with Christina Lindley. From the Real Deal show I went to Planet Hollywood to Maria Ho and Tiffany Michelle's room and got ready for the party. We've been having a lot of fun while they've been in town and getting ready with the girls always leads to a good night.

Having to arrive at The Bank at Bellagio at 11:00 it was required that I stay till 2:30 in the morning... Shiza! The place was jam packed and filled with almost all my friends. It was fun minus a few haters/fake people I had to deal with, but none the less always good to see and hang out with good friends. I would like to give a special thanks to everyone that showed up and supported me at this party. I love you guys! Especially Liz Lieu who saved the day. You're the best! xoxo

Watch Bluff Magazine Anniversary Party at The Bank Nightclub - Raw Red Carpet on RawVegas.tv

Getting home from the party at 3:30 I finally fell asleep around 4 only to wake up at 7:30. I had to get ready to head down to the Rio for the coverage of the final table of the WSOP main event. I think the biggest thing that kept me from not sleeping in was all the excitement. I would be doing color commentary (play by play analysis) for http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/ along with the bust out interviews. Getting back in the ol' saddle again from last year's coverage I did was a little off given the lack of sleep, but sitting next to Nick Geber and watching this final table play out was amazing. I did have to take a mini break from the table at 3 to head over to the Venetian as I still had my show to do at the Real Deal. It was also a fun show with Jennifer Harman and Todd Brunson and special guest Marco Traniello. We had an a female player from the audience go on to win the table and the $1500 bracelet which has great to see. From there I ran back to the Penn and Teller theater to get back to the action of the final table. Sadly David "Chino" Rheem (my pick to win) had busted along with Kelly Kim and Craig Marquis. (pic with Scott Montgomery the 5th place finisher who was eliminated by a one outer...ouch!)

I'll be writing a full post on this day on my PokerListings blog coming very soon. As for now I can barely keep my eyes open. Tomorrow I'll be at The Real Deal! with Todd Brunson and Eli Elezra for our 5pm show and then back at the Rio at 8pm to cover the heads up match between Peter Eastgate and Ivan Demidov. Two non americans (Danish and a Russian) and great poker players to boot that will play for a $9.1 million fist prize. I'll be making my updates along the way that you can follow on my Twitter page: www.twitter.com/laceyjones Until then sweet dreams and Gnight.

Bitter sweet

I voted last night and at the very last minute... no joke. I arrived with 12 minutes to spare and not one person in line! Since I didn't go to the exact polling place (20 minutes away) I had to vote on a provisional ballot. F*ckin lame! This only allowed me to vote for the president and congressional elect. Instead of using the new monitors to vote I had a tangible ballot where I had to complete an arrow to the right of the person I chose.
Looking like this: <-- --<

Now everyone knows I'm a die hard Republican, went to University of Arizona, I've worked on McCain's campaigns, and I had no clue who to vote for. Even last week I was still on the fence. Being a political science major in college, elections are very important to me. It is our civic duty as Americans to go out and exercise our right to vote. There are soldiers who fight and die for all of us to live in a democratic country. Yes voting for a president is almost obsolete with the electoral college, but voting for local and state politicians are so important and just a few votes have a huge impact on your community.

Opening the ballot to make my decision I had to pause for a moment. It was so hard to see someone that I have supported ever since I was 18 years old and know he was not going to get my vote. Marking the arrow next to Obama felt as though I was stabbing a friend in the back. Although I know I made the right decision (hopefully) I still couldn't believe McCain had changed so much. He is an amazing Senator and someone that I strongly believe has done more for our country than many of our past presidents being a Prisoner of War. I do love Senator McCain and have for over a decade, but after recent events in our country I don't believe he is right for change that is so desperately needed. Even with this knowledge, I couldn't help but feel guilty for voting for Obama. I've never voted Democrat in my entire voting life. Is it possible to be the only person with this hanging over my head? I am happy with the decsion, but still can't shake this feeling.

President Obama, congratulations on your victory. Please don't prove me wrong.