A Weekend in Las Vegas

June 28th through 30th my friend, Patty, and I took a trip to Las Vegas to see Reba with Brooks & Dunn.

At my new job, there's a sock monkey named Noodles that employees can take with them on their various adventures, and photograph the fun Noodles is having with them.

I'll be honest, I do NOT like sock monkeys.  They've always creeped me out, and I want nothing to do with them.  However, I love to write, be creative and silly, so I kind of wanted to take Noodles with me to Las Vegas.  I thought maybe it would also help me get over my loathing of these creatures.

 I decided to just go with it, and got Noodles from the coat rack he hangs out on, and took him to my desk.  That way I wouldn't forget to take him with me when I left work that day to head to the airport.

Well, it seems while hanging around my desk, Noodles made friends with my 98.7 The Bull, bull I got from my favorite radio station.  And thus, my journaling of Noodles' adventures in Las Vegas began even before I left work.

A co-worker, Karla, asked me to post my pics to Facebook, so I did, with captions for each, and also tagging my friend, Patty, so she'd be able to have them as well.

I have another wonderful co-worker, Michelle B. who doesn't have Facebook though.  Since it's Michelle who's encouraged me to start making blog posts again, (it's been over a year), I felt that posting all my captions and pics of Noodles' adventures in one blog post would be a good place to start; and Michelle would be able to see what Noodles had been up to in Las Vegas.

Below are my pics of Noodles, with the captions that accompanied each.  Read on to see Noodles' adventures in Las Vegas:

This is Noodles, the traveling sock monkey who lives at the office where I work.  Noodles goes anywhere an employee wants to take him.  This weekend Noodles will be going to Las Vegas.

While hanging out at my desk, Noodles made a new friend, the bull from my favorite radio station, 98.7 The Bull.  The bull was sad that he was stuck at my desk, and unable to be with his other Bull co-horts, Jake Byron, Danny Dwyer, Jenn Hays, Tony Russell, and MoJoe Roberts, in Eugene this weekend for Garth Brooks.

Noodles was quick to respond that the bull could come along on his adventure in Vegas, to see another Brooks:  Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn, as well as Ronnie Dunn AND Reba McEntire.

This made the bull very happy as he loves country music.  Noodles is happy because he won't be traveling alone in a bag with just a bunch of clothes and stuff.

As you can see, the two have become fast friends.  More posts will be made as these two begin their new adventure.  :)

Made it to the airport in record time.  (Go figure, the one time traffic *isn't* bad, and on a Friday no less!)

Noodles and the bull are relaxing and stretching their legs a bit, while we wait for Patty Pittman to get here.  :)

Well, after a slight delay, we're through security and at our gate.

Noodles and the bull let Patty and I know they were a bit peckish; so we're enjoying some delicious Mo's fish and chips while we wait for our flight.  Yum!

And the traditional "PDX Carpet" pic with Patty, Noodles, the 98.7 The Bull bull, and myself, (please forgive my ugly toes!), before boarding our flight.  Next stop, Las Vegas!

Seems the Las Vegas luck has already started for Noodles and the bull.  An empty seat in Patty's and my row means they can enjoy the flight in a comfy seat, instead of cooped up in a carry-on bag under a seat.

Finally made it to the hotel.  As you can see, we have one very tired Noodles and bull.  One very tired Patty and Nola also.  Nighty night everyone!

Noodles and the bull met a friendly Las Vegas native today, Burney the monkey, who volunteered to show them around town.

No real pics to show, as they were rushing here and there.  Burney also didn't want others to know where he's from, as it lacks the glitz Vegas is known for.  Noodles and the bull did convince Burney to let them take this one photo together, high above where Burney called home.

That's not a typo.  Seems Burney has been wanting to go places and see things for awhile, so Noodles and the bull invited him to spend the rest of the trip with them, Patty, and me, then go back to Washington and live with them.  Burney happily accepted.

After a warm, (95 degrees), day sightseeing, Noodles, the bull and Burney wanted to go swimming.

Patty and I *tried* to tell them this fountain in Caesar's Palace was NOT a pool.  As you can see, they didn't listen.  :)

Noodles, the bull and Burney wanted their pic with a Reba/Brooks & Dunn poster, but needed some help doing so, so Patty and I helped them out a bit.  Burney was a bit camera shy, sitting on Patty's shoulder.  One of the nice security people snapped the pic for us.

Noodles wasn't sure if he'd ever been to a country concert; Burney was sure he hadn't been; and of course the bull has been to many of them.  By the end of the night, all three agreed, they had a fantastic time.  They even got some confetti streamers as souvenirs.

Now it's time for bed as they're up early tomorrow to head back to Portland.

Noodles, the bull, and Burney sitting at McCarran airport awaiting their flight to Portland.  Three tired, but happy travelers; five if you count Patty and me.  :)










And there you have it, Noodles the sock monkey's adventure in Las Vegas.  Though there isn't a pic of it, Noodles, the bull, and Burney all made it back home safe and sound.  :)

I'm still not too keen on sock monkeys, but I'll admit, Noodles is kind of cool.  :)

I'm Not Okay...But I'm Trying to Be...

I will be the first to admit, I'm insecure about almost everything.  I've always had those people in my life who have been my "sounding boards"; those individuals who will listen to you rant, rave, cry, complain, and also laugh and share the happiness in life, all without judgement. Even when I'm at a point where I sound narcissistic, these people know the real me enough to know that I'm really NOT that way.  That I DO care about others, how they feel, etc., almost to a fault, because I empathize with them.

Recently though, I've been going through a period where I've lost at least one of my sounding boards forever, my mom, due to Alzheimer's/dementia, (no more negativity around her, it affects her badly); and another at least temporarily, because of all the crap she's had to deal with lately.

In fact, part of why I'm writing this is because of not only what's going on with me, but with my friends.  It seems as though everyone I feel the closest to is going through a very rough time right now.  Friends with cancer, car wrecks, deaths, being hit by a car, you name it, and my friends are going through it; and handling it much better than me and what I'm going through.  At least that's been my perspective of late.  

Because I do care about my friends, but feel helpless in doing anything for them, I've shut down.  I stay to myself, because I don't want to start complaining about what I'm going through when they're having a rougher time than I am.  I want to be them, I want to be stronger, and do better, and not have to cry on someone all the time.  So, that's what I've been trying to do.  

In the process, I'm fairly sure at least one friend thinks I don't like them anymore, because I haven't checked in with them in months.  Meanwhile, I'm just plugging away, trying to get along and be strong like everyone around me seems to be.

I started noticing changes in myself, but ignored them as long as I could.  If I didn't acknowledge it, it would go away.  It didn't.  I remember at some point just posting this photo on Facebook, without saying anything about it.                                                                     

  I had friends who commented, asking if I was okay.  I realized then that all I'd done was draw attention to myself, which is what I was actually trying to avoid.  I private messaged those that asked, and was honest, I said no, I'm not okay.  Guilt at admitting that much however, (because I was still trying to be as strong as I perceived those around me to be), kept me from going into any details.  I decided at that point, no more posts on Facebook about it.  If someone asked, I'd be honest and say no, I'm not okay; but wouldn't allow myself to go into details.  It was my compromise with myself.  Another part of the compromise I made, I realized later:  I'm down, and broken, but I'm not crazy.  Yet, those who don't know me may think I'm crazy.  Despite everything, and generally not caring about things anymore, I still care what others may think about me.

At the same time this was going on with me, one of the guys I listen to on the radio in the morning, Tony Russell, of Tony, Jake and Jenn, (98.7 The Bull in Portland, Oregon), was always talking about the divorce he was going through at that time.  I haven't met Tony yet, but listening to him on the air talk about his troubles somehow comforted me.  There was one time I especially connected with something he said, about just starting to cry for no reason, no matter where he might be.  THAT was exactly what was going on with me as well.  

Then, earlier this week, Tony was talking on the air about how there'd been a complaint from a listener specifically about him.  This listener stated that they didn't want to hear about Tony's "train wreck of a life".  Tony wasn't upset about the listener's complaint, however, he did feel compelled to write a post about it on his blog on the station's website. Of course I had to read his post; I had to see what his response to this person was going to be.  Until then, I hadn't even considered that what I felt comforted by, and not so alone, would be annoying to someone else.

After I read it, I emailed Tony, asking if I could put a link to his post on my blog.  What Tony wrote is spot on to how I've been feeling; he's worded it better than I would have though, and I think it's something everyone should read.  For those who are interested, this is a link to Tony's original post:  http://www.987thebull.com/hi-name-tony-im-beautifully-broken/

For now, I'm still not okay, but I'm trying to do better, and I AM better than I was.  

So Many Things I Want To Say, & All I Can Manage Is: Why?

The title of this post pretty much sums up what's going on inside of me right now.

I woke up Monday, October 2, 2017 to the story of the mass shooting in Las Vegas at the Highway 91 Music Festival, in front of the Mandalay Bay Casino.  Within the hour, the death toll had risen high enough for the shooting to be dubbed "the worst mass shooting in American history".  It was only 4 am here on the West Coast.

As the day went on, I knew I  was going to end up writing a blog post about the day's events. So many thoughts and emotions were running through me as I heard people on the radio, and saw the various Facebook posts and tweets from friends, strangers, and celebrities.  

I was shocked that this had happened at a country music concert.  Even at the rowdiest country music concert, I guess I just wouldn't expect this type of thing to happen.  

I was deeply saddened and almost in tears hearing about how many people had died, some while trying to save others from being hurt.

I was happy to hear that the artists who had been performing that night were safe and accounted for.  On a local note, I was also happy for the people at the radio station I listen to, 98.7 The Bull, in Portland, Oregon.  The station had an intern who was in Vegas for her birthday; she was actually across the street at a Big & Rich show when the shooting began.  

The station had also had a contest to win tickets to the Highway 91 Music Festival, and when news of the shooting broke, the station made every effort to find out if the contest winners were alright.  They were, and had actually ended up helping other concert goers who had been hurt.  You could hear it in the woman's voice, she was still in a bit of shock, as would be expected.

Unfortunately, though a former street team member of the station was also safe, (having flown home early), her brother and his girlfriend had stayed for the last day of the concert.  The girl's brother, in an attempt to shield his girlfriend, wound up being shot, though fortunately, he's still alive.

Along with those emotions came anger, not just at what had happened, but people as well.  First and foremost, was anger at the shooter.  How dare he, for whatever reason he had, take the lives of innocent people, and shatter the lives of those who survived.  He didn't know them, so what was the purpose?

Other tinges of anger came out at one of the witnesses.  A woman who had been a vendor at the concert at least partially blamed a lack of security for the shooting.  I realize the woman was probably still in shock over what had happened, and that the whole story hadn't developed yet, but it still bothered me a bit.  This is because the shooter wasn't part of the concert crowd; he was a guest of the hotel, who was shooting from the 32nd floor of the hotel.

There was also some anger at people who accused Jason Aldean of leaving the stage to seek shelter when the rampage started.  What was he supposed to do?  Stay and possibly get shot also?  Tell me one person who wouldn't have done the same thing in that situation. 

Another form of anger I have about this is feeling hopeless; not because I feel like I can't do anything to help.  No, I feel hopelessness that this world will never be a happy place ever again. This incident isn't the first of it's kind, and I'm pretty sure it won't be the last. 

All those emotions, and more are still swirling around inside me, and though this is approximately  my fifteenth attempt at writing this post, it's STILL not what I was trying to convey.  

Maybe it's because others I know have expressed how I feel, and what I want to say, better than I have.  

For example, my friend, Kim Blue, posted this on Facebook:  

"How scummy do have to be to blame loss of life on someone who had a spotlight on them up above everyone else on a stage for running for their life when some yells into the ear monitors that there is an active shooter and get off the stage? Which he did to get his very pregnant wife out of harms way. Thats not what I want to say, but my phone will autocorrect that kind of language. Bad reporter!"

 99.9% of the time, reporters are spot on with their stories.  Every once in awhile though, you get someone who does, or says something out of line.  I realize, reporters are human too, we all make mistakes, but honestly, this upset me.

My friend, Jake Byron, a DJ at 98.7 The Bull, posted the following on his station blog. When he posted to Facebook, he said he's just being honest, he's not proud of it.  I identify completely with what he's written; I just feel deflated after today. 

Feel Like Giving Up?

I certainly do.

Admittedly, I’ve been having a tough time lately.  There’s just so much wrong with the world, and so much hate & criticism about everything, that I’m just getting weary.  I have always prided myself as being somebody who fights for what I believe in, and stands up to what I see as injustice.  But I’m straight running out of gas.

The thing is…  with this shooter in Las Vegas…  there’s no next step.  There’s no response worth encouraging, there’s no justice to be found, and there’s no getting back those we lost.  This was simply a tragedy, and the best we can do is try to support those left behind, and that’s…  it.

I’ve just had it.  I could hide my head in the sand, and to be honest, that sounds the most appealing right now.

This is what hate does.  It wins.  I have such love and respect for those who are preaching the “love conquers all” message this morning.  You keep fighting the good fight.  But you’ve lost a allied soldier today.

I hope I bounce back.

~Jake from 98.7 The Bullpo

My friend, KD  Karin Carroll, posted a great, upbeat, reply to Jake's Facebook post. Thankfully KD is one of those people who's there to try to cheer the rest of us up when we get down:

KD Karin Carroll Kiddo it is how we all feel but hold on to your faith. Do not let the evil win. You cannot stop living because of hate. Keep your joy, love and kindness in tact we all will need this Arsenal nowc 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿❤️❤️❤️

KD, and others who have posted similar things are right, we can't let evil win.  We think it's bad now, imagine what it would be like if evil truly did take over! 

For now though, even after writing this post, I'm still as big a bundle of confusion, and raw emotion as I was before I wrote it.  They say time heals all wounds.  I hope so, not for myself, but for all those in Vegas, and anywhere, that has had to endure such senseless violence.  And I'm still left with that burning question, about this happening:  Why?

"Forever Country"

2016 marks 50 years of the Country Music Association, (CMA), presenting country artists with awards for greatness.  In honor of this milestone, the CMA has put together a video featuring over 30 award winning artists, performing a mash-up of three iconic country hits, John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads", Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again", and Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You".

The video, titled "Forever Country", shows the artists singing part of one or more of each song, while standing in front of a green screen.  The green screen allows for various backdrops to be placed around the artists, from cityscapes, and buildings, to forests and hay fields, and everything in between. The scenery is as awesome as the performances, making for a  perfect blending of sight and sound, with neither overstepping the other.

I first learned of "Forever Country" from reading about it on a couple of local radio stations' websites.  98.7 The Bull's Jake Byron noted in his write up that only 1% of people would be able to recognize every country artist appearing in the video.  I was already interested to watch the video, and upon reading about the 1%, wanted to see if *I* would be able to name all of them.  I'm proud to say that I was able to.

Even if I hadn't been able to name everyone though, I'd still be writing this post, because this video is too awesome not to share with others.  Watch "Forever Country" for yourself, and see how many country artists you recognize.  And be sure to tune in on November 2, 2016, to watch the 50th annual CMA Awards show live on ABC.

Of Resolutions & Worries

 Well, it's another new year; a time when people everywhere make resolutions, big and small.

One of the most common resolutions people make is to lose weight and get fit.  It's the same every year, and you'd have to be living under a rock not to notice retailers emphasizing the point.

Myself, I don't make resolutions.  I figure if I don't make them, I won't break them, thus starting my year off with one less thing to worry about.  

Not that I'd notice one less worry among my vast collection of them.  I guess you could call me a chronic worrier; one of those people who worries about everything.  Or, as my mom has always said, "someone who'd worry about not having something to worry about".

It's not that I try to worry, I don't.  For me though, not worrying is like not breathing.

So, what do my worries have to do with New Year resolutions?  After all, I don't make them, so I don't have to worry about breaking them.  Actually, the answer is simple, and very common for me; I worry about others and how they're doing.

What sparked me into writing this post was a post on 98.7 The Bull's website, by one of the morning DJ's, Jake Byron.

http://www.987thebull.com/2014/01/02/jakes-2013-resolutions/

I tend to worry about people I know and like, friends, family, etc.; Jake falls into that category.  So, when I read Jake's post, I guess I was kind of reading between the lines of what he'd written.  

I worried, because I read about how he had a bad 2013, for various reasons, and how his confidence had been shaken by some of those reasons.  That's not the Jake I know.  It may be the "real" Jake, I don't know; but it's still not the Jake *I* know.  

Naturally, my worry kicked in.  I emailed Jake, just to check on him and if he was going to be okay.  I told him that I didn't need details of what was wrong; it's not any of my business to know that.  I just wanted to be sure he was going to be okay.  He assured me he would be; so I'm a little less worried than I was before.  

Of course, before I set out to write this post, I asked Jake if it would be okay.  I didn't want to offend him by writing something he may not like.  Again, a worry, again, an assurance that it would be fine.

So there you have it, my post about resolutions and worries. The worry is probably something I should make a resolution about; though if I did, I'd worry about not breaking my resolution, so I think I'll just stick to worrying about those around me, and be there if they need me.    

Brett Eldredge @ The Bing Lounge-3-21-13

Brett Eldredge.

You may not know the name now; however, in time that's bound to change.

As far as music careers go, singer/songwriter Eldredge's time in the spotlight has been short, compared to most; garnering him attention in just three years.

On March 21, 2013, Eldredge was the most recent visitor to the Bing Lounge, courtesy of 98.7 The Bull.

In addition to telling the audience about his experiences in the business, Eldredge also told the stories behind the songs he sang that day; two which he's recorded himself.

"Raymond" was Eldredge's first song out to radio, in 2010.  It's the story of a woman with Alzheimer's who thinks one of the caretakers is her son, Raymond.  It's a haunting, touching tale, told in Eldredge's deep, unique voice and tone.  He explained the song was close to his heart, and was written for his grandma, who suffers from Alzheimer's.  There *is* a video of Eldredge's performance in the Bing Lounge, however I couldn't get it to work here, so I've put the official video in it's place.  Go to 987TheBull on YouTube for the live performance.

Eldredge currently has a song on radio titled "Don't Ya".  He joked that doing the video for the song was "difficult" and he "had" to keep doing the kissing scene over and over, to get it right.

Though the set was short, Brett Eldredge showed those in the Bing Lounge why his star has been steadily rising.  Here's hoping to a long climb.