I don't know where else to turn, so thank goodness I have a blog to vent my frustrations. So as you know, I live in the godawful city of Las Vegas. Here is one of the millions of reasons why a majority of the people here are total joke. A bad joke.
We live in a condo complex, with our apartment located towards the back of the place. Not a lot of the apartments are occupied (all those foreclosures, etc.) so we have ample parking available to us, with only about 5 cars using 8 covered parking spots. So, as residents of over a year, we are classified as "long-term" residents and have fallen into a routine with the parking. Not life or death here. It's not rocket science. It doesn't even really matter- except that there are very few stable things in Las Vegas and my parking spot was one of those things.
I park next to my husband. Our neighbors (a couple) park next to each other and we are all happy. Then we had to have a new person join the mix. An apparently quite confused and disoriented person. A person that has a low-end Mercedes with a license plate that says: SXCXS. If you haven't guessed already, one of the billions of Las Vegas realtors. Now, let's pause a minute. If you are truly a "success" would you live in a crappy condo? Don't answer that.
So Ms. Success decides she wants my "usual" parking spot and every day parks in that spot. So, Aaron and I both move over one spot. The next day, Ms. Success is in my NEW spot. So Aaron moves, yet again, and we park next to each other, again. Then she resumes stealing my spot. On the weekends, she mixes it up and steals the other couple's spots. WTF? I just don't get it..pick a darn spot and park the darn car in it. Repeat. It isn't that hard.
No we don't have assigned parking and I am well aware that this is a petty complaint, but there is a thing called basic neighborly-ness. You know, like just trying to fit in with the group of people you live around. Maybe being slightly respectful of them, their norms, their lives. Maybe trying to incorporate yourself into the group as a peaceful, if not positive member. Whatever. Don't expect it in Vegas.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Take Your SXCXS One Spot Over Please!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Add This One to Your Outdoor Classics Bookshelf
Looking for a great nonfiction book? You will definitely enjoy this if you liked Into the Wild, Grizzly Man, Between a Rock and A Hard Place or any of the other popular adventure/outdoor nonfiction accounts. This book examines the events surrounding the disappearance of an expert Kings-Canyon/Sequoia backcountry ranger. Was he suicidal? Was he a victim of a homicide? Weather and nature? Or did he just want to escape to Mexico? The book is part mystery, part investigative journalism, part love letter to the Sierras with plenty of fascinating tidbits about working as a backcountry ranger and doing search and rescue work thrown in for good measure. I’d highly recommend this title for any of us that venture out into the wilderness; as this story reminds us, you can never be too careful…and as Ranger Randy would have said, “Slow down out there and enjoy it!”
Sunday, January 20, 2008
What Happens When You Find Random Stuff from the Internet
Aaron and I did a personalty test today. Does this sound like anyone you know?
| Big Five Test Results |
| Extroversion (62%) moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity. Accommodation (50%) medium which suggests you are moderately kind natured, trusting, and helpful while still maintaining your own interests. Orderliness (32%) moderately low which suggests you are, at times, overly flexible, random, scattered, and fun seeking at the expense of structure, reliability, work ethic, and long term accomplishment. Emotional Stability (56%) moderately high which suggests you are relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic. Inquisitiveness (66%) moderately high which suggests you are intellectual, curious, imaginative but possibly not very practical. |
personality tests by similarminds.com
Saturday, January 19, 2008
My First Caucus
We got there about ten minute to 11:00 (the assigned time) and there was a huge line out the door. There was one table inside with one woman checking people in. Because so many people had to register to vote at the caucus the line was at standstill and there were people freezing (it was 50 degrees-but that's cold for Las Vegans) and there was much complaining out the door. About 11:15 we were moved inside and the organizers tried to make the line move a little faster by splitting us into groups, what an idea, eh? At 11:45 there were still people waiting in line. They also ran out of official preference forms and people had to write on scraps of paper. Or in the dirt or whatever....(kidding).
Then we were all asked to move into the designated corners of the candidate we supported, which meant I had to finally make a decision. I had been undecided because I really supported Bill Richardson and he did not have supporters there. Edwards was also an option I was considering, but he failed to have a showing at our caucus either. Basically we had to choose between Hillary and Obama. We did two rounds and after all the undecideds aligned with one of the two candidates the preference slips were counted. Unfortunately, the slips had to match the head count of physical bodies in the room and some people had left, so this took a bunch of counting and re-counting. The Obama people were very obnoxious and refused to let the Hillary people count their votes and so there was a little fighting for the amusement of the bored caucus-ers. Finally the slips and counts were tallied and it came out Obama 5 delegates and Hillary 4 delegates. The campaigns then asked people to volunteer to be delegates and at long last we were allowed to leave. The process took about two hours.
It was disorganized, it felt weird to be out in public, rather than in an anonymous booth voting, and it was more like a big party than a serious political event. It was kind of fun to talk politics with our "neighbors", but the level of disorganization was a bit discouraging.
So, maybe you want to know who my candidate is...well at this point I am aligned with Hillary. I think that it is important and profound to have a woman running. If Obama is the "change" candidate (which I don't know, since apparently Ron Paul is the candidate with the most supporters that own iPhones), than I guess Hillary is the "experience" candidate and hopefully she will want to leave a positive legacy in a historic presidency. Ultimately, I will vote for either of the candidates when the final election takes place.
So I survived my first caucus and I think I deserve a Bloody Mary. Word has it that Mitt Romney took the Republican caucus and his home state of Nevada by storm...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia
I was only back in Vegas three days before I had to hop on a plane to the East Coast for the American Library Association Midwinter conference. This means that I was only at work for about three days in five weeks and that after putting 5,000 miles on my truck during the Holiday Road Trip I would also be earning some flight miles as well.
I arrived in Philly and took the advice of a co-worker (who is from the city) and hopped on the train. So easy. It is amazing: from the airport to the convention center I didn't even have to go outside! I did have to hit the street to go to my more frugal hotel, the Hampton Inn but the walk was only about 4 blocks. I soon met up with my former boss and conference roommate (who I totally love and miss and was so happy to see)!
The next day we went to the LITA preconference on User-Centered Design for Websites (Day One) and Usability (Day Two). It was an intensive two-day workshop and I think I managed to absorb a lot of information that will help out with my work on the library's web site and on the digital collections. The only problem was that my brain wasa basically full by the time the actual conference started. I attended my required meetings (ACRL Arts Section, Library Research Roundtable, LITA Digital Library Interest Group, and New Members Roundtable) as well as the CONTENTdm meetings for users of the software we build our digital collections with. But, that was the boring stuff. There was also a bit of fun.
In addition to being reunited with my old boss, I also saw all the UNLV people, a friend from library school who is the digital projects librarian at Drake University, and even met a few new friends and contacts along the way. There was a great party, put on by Thomson at the Philadelphia Art Museum (of Rocky fame) where we got to tour the galleries and eat free food- though not at the same time! There was the night we went to the Afghan restaurant, Kabul ,and the couple trips to Chinatown for cheap and delicious dinners.
One of the best things about the conference was that the convention center literally sat above the Reading Terminal Market with all varieties of tasty food vendors, produce stands, coffee and tea, gifts, and sweets. It rocked! I could eat there a month and not try everything. We had falafel, crepes, Italian hoagies, Indian food, pastries, coffee, and I even tried the Amish pickles. Yum. This place really made the conference.
I got the minimum of required sightseeing in: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's grave site and the historic buildings in Old Town. I wish I would have had more time to explore, but this conference was rather busy and I just didn't get to do much beyond scratching the surface. In fact, I only had one Philly cheesesteak- a bad one- at the airport on the way home.
It is good to be home safe and sound, though I will miss my friends until the next conference or visit. I saw the ad above as I was running to the train to catch my flight. I thought it was pretty funny that even the Hard Rock was trying to wrangle a few of the 100,000 librarians in for a bite to eat. Though we all know its true...librarians do rock!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The End of the Road
It was great to walk into taverns that we've haven't been into in two years and see Bill, Bob, Bruno, Adrianne, or even that rude women at the Speedway and feel that people remember you from the old days and want to hear how things are going. We really enjoyed catching up with friends, old co-workers, and family as well as our favorite bartenders- but truly, if you're going to Milwaukee, you have to have a special place in your heart for the local taverns.
On New Year's Day we hit to road back down south. Illinois was like an ice-skating rink, with about 30 cars in the ditch along the 300 mile stretch into Missouri. I don't know if it was the new tires or just good driving but we couldn't figure out what the heck was wrong with all these people. At a rest area along the way I talked with an older women that I assumed to be an avid RV'er, as she looked the type. As we were washing out hands and discussing the 10 degree temperatures and wind she said, "You know, I love the road, but sometimes I just wish they would have finally figured out that teleporter thing!" So true!
We stayed in Springfield, MO that night and then busted out a long 13-hour day of driving into Taos, NM. It was worth it. If you have never had the pleasure of visiting New Mexico, you better get it on your list. Especially if you like food. "Life without green chile is no life at all!" Taos is, of course, where we got married and has special meaning for us. This trip we stayed at the Laughing Horse Inn bed and breakfast that used to be an old commune and is dog-friendly and full of interesting people. It is under new ownership and despite our worried that everything would be changed, the place looks good: preserving the old charm and adding new energy. The new innkeeper is a total trip (former stuntwoman that is a multi-talented painter, writer, musician and mother!) Taos truly is a creative magnet for people like that. It was particularly cool that while we were there the innkeeper was hosting a meeting for the Old Spanish Trail historical society and was willing to partner with the group to work on promoting the trail (which just so happens to run in front of the Inn!) Very cool! We got the sauna room and slept in the rustic bunk beds with Pocky chilling out on the lower level. We also made a visit to KTAO solar radio, which is our favorite source of eclectic music while experiencing the Taos vibe. The trip would not have been complete without a couple margaritas at the Taos Inn where we got married. I absolutely love the Adobe Bar and the night we were there we got to hear a local bluegrass singer who managed to pull out a couple favorites, including Iris Dement and "Lakes of Pontchatrain". Excellent. BTW, I send my regards to the guy we met after my third margarita, I don't remember much beyond the fact that you are getting married in the spring. Cheers!
Before we descended back into the Las Vegas valley, we made one more stop in Arizona's Navajo country. We visited our friends, Darrell and Madiria and their son Ethan at their house in progress that Darrell is building just north of Show Low, AZ. It was great to visit and hang out and Ethan was a real cutie. We also swung through Petrified Forest National Park on the way home and got to see some reallyy cool petrified logs. Don't steal these pretty pieces of wood or the NPS will fine you something fierce!!!
The trip ended with a huge downpour in Kingman and fog into the Hoover Dam. We arrived safely back at home and enjoyed sleeping in our own bed and finally finishing the third season of Lost. It is good to be home, but as Aaron said yesterday, "I miss the road already!"
