I am LOVING life

It's truly amazing how 6 months can change your life. We all know I was hanging on to my last rope earlier this year and I must say I never knew life could be this grand. I only have a few minutes to write this blog, but I wanted to say thank you to all my family and friends for being there when I needed you most. You were all right... that things would get better and to just hang on. I am so happy and grateful for my life and the people I keep close. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Tonight I WILL set aside time to finish writing about all the wonderful things that have been going on.

Busy Bee...

Today is my Friday! I've been busy everyday. I'll have my wonderful Sunday (fav day of the week) and Monday off! WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I am very excited and must say it like it is.

There is so much to catch everyone up on. I'll make sure to write my blogs tomorrow while I watch my Cowboys redeem themselves. While you're waiting here's a video from the BLUFF cover shoot:

Watch Bluff Magazine Photoshoot with Lacey Jones and Christina Lindley on RawVegas.tv

What a day!

Something about today, not sure exactly what, has kept a smile on my face all day long. I love days like these. No matter what negative arrives you can quickly brush it off and see about a million other positive things right before you. This morning I woke up only hitting the snooze 3 times. Oow ooow! If you know me, I can let that thing go ALL morning if I have to. Talking to a few of my favorite people via text I made my super yummy protein shake and listened to Santogold and MGMT.

There must be something about those first few things I mentioned, because today was fantastic! I'll have to do it exactly the same tomorrow morning and see what happens. After I got ready my dad came to my house and I was able to pretend he was my "live audience" and rehearse my lines. He's the best because he'll tell me when I make a mistake or miss a line, while others would say, " You did great!" He also says I'm doing great, but at least he's honest with me.

Today at the Real Deal! we had our first live audience. It's not open to the public until next week for our soft opening, but we're having Venetian employees come in for a free show. This way we can rehearse and get everything perfect for opening day (October 21st). Let me tell you I was nervous! I wouldn't let myself think too much about having the audience leading up to today. It didn't even hit me until I was being introduced and bright lights were shining in my eyes. As soon as I rasied the mic to speak I thought: Holy Moly! I'm talking to a lot of people and they are all looking at me!

It was quite humorous on the inside. The only way I can explain it is I was in the moment. It was there and I took it and even though I was scared... I did it anyway! This might not make any sense, and it is getting past my bedtime, so please bear with me. I'll save it for a longer blog so I can talk about it a little more in depth. In the end we had a great rehearsal and had two great pros Jennifer Harman and Eli Elezra along with Paul Rodriguez as the Host. It was so much fun.

Running from the show I took my Dad to the airport. He's going to the beach in South Carolina and the Citadel game on Saturday. SO jealous! Only the night didn't end there, it got better! I got a text to get my sexy ass down to the Orleans and sweat one of my favorite poker players/ girlfriends. Yes my home slice is in town and my other friends are soon to follow!! Esther Taylor, better known as Etay!(exclamation point included)is back in Vegas after being gone way too long.

Etay! was at the last two tables in the nightly tournament and I sat behind and watched her pound fists with players while she took pots from them. Classic. I swear Maria Ho and Etay know how to juice a table and make friends... or enemies ( Legends of Poker drama lol) with anyone and it's always fun to watch. After my little homie busted I stayed a little longer while she waited for an Omaha table to open up. It was great to finally catch up and talk one on one with a friend. Not to mention I think it's impossible to be around her and not have a good time. And from there I came home with my little sis sleeping on the couch. Erinn moved into my house last week and it's been great. I never have roomates, but this is different. I feel like I have a home with family now, which is quite refreshing when I've been on my own for so many years. Life is good.

Off to a great start...

I'm going to start writing down all the signs I keep seeing. Maybe they're not really signs, just moments of irony or sheer coincidence. What ever you'd like to call it, these fleeting moments bring a smile to my face and almost feel like my soul taking a deep breath.

This morning was amazing. I had to wake up early for rehearsal and decided on 7:30. Not wanting to leave my sandy white beaches I bargained with the snooze button for 8am. I spent the morning getting ready by listening to My Morning Jacket's Evil Urges album. The same album I've been listening to for the past 15 days. They're that good.

By the way...did you know that a cow can drink up to a full bathtub of water every day? Yes that was my fun zoo fact of the day when I had my oatmeal this morning. Not actually from the oatmeal... the disposable bowls I found this summer that I think are awesome. Here's a brain bender: A duck's quack has no echo. Now what's up with that??

Again here I go with tangents, but it's getting late and I'm being harassed for not keeping the fam and friends posted. At least I'll make my mom laugh. Getting back to my sign of the day.

Driving up to the front of the Venetian this morning (which normally I would start parking in the employee parking) I saw a huge crowd waiting out in the front of the valet/ front lobby. At the same time I'm arriving, there is a police motorcade that drives in front with numerous white vans that pull up behind it and park along the curb. It was confusing to see what was going on and suddenly the crowd bursts into applause. Getting out of the car hesitantly I make my way along the edge of the crowd to get inside.

As I get closer to the door I see people holding signs and shouting in joy all the while still clapping. I realize they are welcoming troops: You're our heroes! We salute you! Thank you for your service! We love you! Those were just a few of the signs. It was absolutely breathtaking to see. There were hundreds of people lined up clapping, but it didn't just stop on the outside of the hotel. As I made my way in heading to the theater, I noticed there were people lined on both sides of the walkway all through the casino. Picture walking down from the front lobby where the ceiling is painted like the sky along with other artwork that you could only find in Venice. Now picture a row of people on each side clapping nonstop holding loving signs of gratitude. It was surreal. I find out that the Venetian is welcoming 40 troops injured in combat for a weekend getaway. I think my heart melted when I found out what I had just witnessed.

Not wanting to leave that beautiful energy I rushed down to the Wayne Brady Theater which we share for the Real Deal!- exclamation point included. :) It's so exciting to walk into the theater and see the stage. I keep picturing all the seats filled and what it will be like on opening night. It's a crazy, nervous, butterflies on crack type of feeling that I get in the core of my body. What a feeling that is! Leaving on a good note, I must get to bed. I'll be posting more. I promise.
Bonne nuit!
~L