Vegas, Baby!

Hello all,
I've just returned from my first trip to Las Vegas, so there is much to tell, but first thing is first.  I MUST tell you all about the new MAN in my life.  He's romantic (when he wants to be), adventurous, sexy, well-traveled, wealthy, has a wild imagination, perhaps a little on the dark side, but who cares--- I am in love with him!  His name is James.  James Patterson!  

Ahahhahaha.  Did I have some of you going?  At least for a second?  Awesome.

So far I've read Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas.  It's one of his three romance novels and an excellent beach read if you are looking for one.  Next was Roses are Red.  It's of the thriller/mystery genre.  I must admit, I've gotten away from these in the past few years. I've been reading more classics, autobiography's, and romance novels, but oh, how I have missed them so!  So now I'm reading The Postcard Killers and I can't put it down! I've got Sail on my book shelf ready to go... The man has over 80 books in print.  Over eighty of them!!!  I am soooo excited. It's like I've just discovered a treasure chest.  An unending treasure chest! 

I love books.  I am a nerd.  I do not care.  Earlier this summer when we were in Watercolor-- my sister, LauraFrazier, and I were packing a cooler and getting ready to head down to the beach and she said, "What book did you bring to read with you, sister?  And I said,"The Sun also Rises by Hemingway"...  and she said "EARNEST Hemingway???!"  Ahahahaaha.  That's the one!

While we're on the subject of books I love, I must mention the showing of "The Help" I went and saw last Thursday night.  I belong to a MINT group here in Nashville.  That stands for Mississippians in Nashville, Tennessee.  (Clever, right?)  We pay $5 in dues a year and get together to do different social events.  It is so much fun!  You never know who you are going to see!  The only criteria is that you lived in Mississippi before you went to college and have somehow, over the years, found yourself residing in Music City.  The events are so much fun because everyone is so friendly and it's cool to hear everyone's story about how they came to live in Nashville.  I think learning about other people's journeys is so interesting. Anyway-- over 70 MINTS got together for cocktails and appetizers at a restaurant next door to the movie house last Thursday and then we all walked over to see "The Help" together.  It was really such a fun event.  I loved the film, so if you haven't seen it yet-- you must!  Of course the book was better... always is!  But this movie seemed extra special because there were so many familiar faces and places in it.  Literally!  I knew at least four people on the big screen (extras mostly) and it was filmed right there in the Mississippi Delta where I grew up.  Technically, Greenwood-- not Tunica.  But a cotton field is a cotton field is a cotton field to me.  Ask anybody from around those parts!  Faith Hill was in the audience that night as well.  She's not a MINT, but she def should be!  I couldn't get close enough to tell her so, or else I would've. 

So-- on to my Vegas trip.  I had to go for work, but no worries-- I managed to mix in a little fun as well.  I was up at 4am Nashville time to make my flight on Friday.  There's a two hour time difference so I actually made it to my hotel, The Cosmopolitan

by 9am and had a whole day to spend down at the pool... I mean pools. 

Also-- my best, good friend Luke Renfro flew over from his home in LA and stayed the weekend with me in my swanky hotel.  I hadn't seen him since the Christmas holidays and we had the best time just hanging out and catching up.  He makes me laugh more than anyone else on the planet! 

And here is us pretending to be movie stars:

Friday night we drank our weight in white wine and stayed out until almost 4am.  Who DOES that when they have to be in meetings all day the next day?! (think start time, 8am).  I'll tell you who:  ME.  And it wasn't just the staying out late.  I had been up for almost 24 hours by the time I finally got to bed!!   I thought I would DIE on Saturday.  Literally die.  My meetings lasted into the afternoon and then we had tickets to see Phantom of the Opera  Saturday night. 

Due to the fact that my friend Luke is a very big deal-- he scored us FREE tickets to shows on both nights.  We were VERY close to the orchestra on Saturday night and the music was SO LOUD and SO SCARY.   I was really pretty nervous the entire time.  The special effects were awesome and the theater was really something to see!  My one qualm with this show, however, was that they sang everything.  And I mean-- EVERYTHING.  They never spoke... AT ALL.  It was like-- ENOUGH already with the singing!  And WHY are you singing right now? It's not a song!  You should be SPEAKING!  Holy hell, it was annoying.

We had dinner after the show and made it in relatively early (for Vegas) that night.  I don't think I've fully recovered yet, but I'm getting close.  I got back late yesterday afternoon.  It was my first trip to Vegas ever. I'm not sure when I'll go back but I'm certainly glad to know what all the fuss is about!  :)

And... in closing, I'd just like to write down a few things that have been on my mind as of late.  Some are more serious than others, but rest assured I am genuine about them ALL.  I call these--"things that would make the world a better place":

more romance, less indifference
more undertanding, less judgement
more music, less war
more babies, fewer criminals
more men like my daddy... and less like the ones I've dated
more honesty, less cowardice
whole cities built with trampoline floors, less concrete

Siggghhhhhh.  A girl can dream, can't she? 

I hope this finds you all doing well and staying cool. As always, thanks for reading!

Yours ever,
Myra