Things I Learned While in Vegas

In case you didn’t know, I spent five days in Vegas this past weekend with my husband, my sister-in-law and her husband! While I did manage to devour a really good book on the plane ride, instead of talking about the book, I'd rather talk about Vegas. Inspired by the ever-hilarious Brenda’s, “What I Know This Week” posts on her website's blog, Unlimited BS, I thought I would do something similar. 

Things I Learned While in Vegas:

1. Flying is one of my favourite times to read. A couple hours of uninterrupted reading time = Brie is in heaven. (OK, I already knew this about me, but every time I travel, I’m reminded of it.)

2. I much prefer to watch other people gamble with their money. 

3. Always try on last year’s summer clothing before going on a trip. Or you could end up bringing a bunch of clothing that’s too tight. Oops. 

4. Not being able to use your cell phones to text the people you’re on vacation with makes meeting up so much more difficult and wastes a lot of time.  Seriously, how did we do it before cell phones were invented? I bet we were a much more patient species back then.

5. Starbucks coffee is more expensive in Vegas just because it’s Vegas.

6. UFC is WAY better live than on TV. 

Jim and I at UFC 146!

 7. I love roller-coasters! And my stomach can still handle them! 

8. Spandex and short skirts know no limits in Vegas.

9. In my next life, I desperately want to be a Cirque du Soleil performer. Or a Burlesque dancer. I'm not picky.

10. There is an entire store dedicated to just Crocs, where I'm pretty sure 40-year old virgins hangout and shop.

Seriously. An entire store full of them.

Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins

*somewhat spoilish if you haven’t read this book or the previous two books in this series. 

I’ve been putting off talking about this book for a few weeks now. Partly because, what can I possibly say about this book that hasn’t already been said? (So I'm going to keep this short). But mostly because, sometimes I think timing is everything when reading a book. I started Mockingjay at night, before I went to bed, and I was tired. (Worst time to start a book FYI). I continued to pick up this book at night, already tired and therefore only getting through a chapter or two at a time. This is my least favourite way to get into a book. It makes the reading experience disjointed, and it’s hard to recall what you read the night before. Instead of worrying about how I wouldn’t get any reading done in a few days span unless I tiredly read a chapter each night, I should have just stopped and picked up Mockingjay when I had a good hour to get into it. 

I found the first half of the book slow, confusing and a little boring. I felt like all I was reading was Katniss roaming the halls in a drug-induced fog. I couldn’t figure out where this book was going to go. I didn’t like how Katniss would pass-out and wake up days, even weeks later, only then to find out what had happened in her absence. I felt like so much of the story line was told from the aftermath viewpoint instead of from the present. This was disappointing because Collins is so good at telling the story from the front-lines (like when the games are going on). 

Hunger Games was definitely my favourite of the trilogy. But I AM SO GLAD that Collins tied up the loose ends in the story. I needed to know who Katniss would end up with, whether they had children, where they would live, etc. And Collins gave me that. It might not have been the ending I envisioned or thought I wanted, but it made sense. I could accept it. My heart swelled when I read the last few pages and tears brimmed in my eyes. I didn’t want to say good-bye to Gale, Prim, Katniss, Peeta or Haymitch, but at least I never have to think “oh my god, but THEN what happened?!” 

So after, when he whispers, “You love me. Real or not real?”

I tell him, “Real.”

Saigon Sundays: Lap-dog Syndrome

Saigon is no lap-dog. He weighs a solid, 80 pounds for heavens-sakes! But you can't really reason these facts with a dog who loves to cuddle with his people. Saigon's motto: No lap should be empty.