Elopement Video #8 - Helicopter Ride - TAKE 2

Did I mention that I am scared of heights???

So guess what...? This is our 2nd foray into the air about a half hour later - - after dumping some fuel. You see me make the sign of the cross at one point in this video - - I think Patrick's face shows it all = = we smile nervously but then turn somber because the truth is we were thinking, "We are gonna DIE!!"

Elopement Video #7 - The Helicopter - TAKE 1

Part of our deciding to elope in Las Vegas was so that we could have one of our beloved road trips (P and I love our roadtrips) and to also take our first helicopter ride ever on a trip to the Grand Canyon.

After already having our first helicopter taken away from us after mechanical delays we finally start to go up in the air an hour after schedule. Bad thing was 3 minutes later we went straight back down..evidently someone was lying about their weight and we had more weight than the original calculated weight of the 6 passengers and captain - plus a full tank of fuel.

Elopement Video #6 - official marriage license

Back from getting our marriage license I nervously and happily show it off...the only thing left to do was to book a chapel and exchange vows and rings - - but first we decide to spend the day on a helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon.

I am in a total state of Happy Shock at this point by the way...

Elopement Video #4 - downtown Freemont Street, Las Vegas

Showered and a short nappy later (Elsa loves her cat naps) - - we step into (literally) the lights of downtown Las Vegas - otherwise known as 'The Fremont Experience'. Again, I don't like Vegas, in fact I hate it. But I hadn't been to downtown Vegas since 1998 when I flew out to audition for the national tour of "Les Miserables". There is something about walking around in the hot, dry desert air at night that puts me in a fantastic mood for people-watching and holding hands with my handsome Irish beau..

Elopement Video #3 - "Lady Luck"

P and I had decided to bunk out in downtown Las Vegas (Freemont Street) - - I hadn't been for 12 years and like it's different charm. Those of you who know me know I don't really care for the glitz of Vegas and the Strip anyway. Never have, never will. We did get a room with a jacuzzi in it, though - hhahahaha!!!

Here Patrick surveys the view, sorry to say gool ol' Lady Luck didn't smile upon him until 2 days later right before we went to the chapel... :)

Elopement Video #2 - Arriving in Vegas

after my tear-stained first video (hehehe) we arrive 5 hours later to Vegas --- you can hear how tired and hungry I was - - my blood sugar level was dropping and my energy was down.... :)

*E* is for Eloping

Tis true! Tis True! We eloped and made it official!!

I am now a "Mrs.", "Missus", "Ma'am". I am officially NO longer an "old maid", "spinster" or "crazy Cat-lady" - - okay, okay - my friends say I still hold on to that last moniker.

Back from Ireland I found myself with a lot on my plate dealing with my back injury, working overtime, my horrible boss.. I wished we had been able to come back legally married from Ireland but it wasn't legal yet. We had to still do a civil ceremony in the States. And I was stressed out picking the date for our ceremony here.

Ugh. Even Patrick was pressuring me for it.

The Truth was: I just wanted to be married to this man. Now. And so did he. But I was dragging my feet dealing with my physical pain and my awful boss. Also, I was trying to plan around some VIPs in my life who are getting married themselves or having babies.

I was...in a word: overwhelmed.

And then, I woke up 2 Wednesday mornings ago and told Patrick, "Let's just go to Vegas this weekend. I cannot wait a few more months."

"Absolutely," was his game answer.

And that was that.

We didn't tell anyone, until the drive up. Then the happy/teary phone calls were made (stay tuned for the video log to be uploaded on here). Ahhhhh... I love my family very much. And I remain grateful for their support and patience at their youngest sister and daughter being unconventional enough to not want the traditional wedding with a white bridal gown and all that lovely stuff that goes with it.

Does my immediate family probably feel that they missed out not being there? Lamentably, yes. But those who know me know it was never about the bridal gown and flowers and hotel for me. I would have married Patrick anywhere just as long as I came home that weekend with the pride and humility of being his wife and partner.

Just for kicks tidbits: I had told my mom and my Aunty Nora at breakfast the day after my first date with Patrick 3.5 years ago that I was going to marry him. (My mom almost keeled over hehehe). But I was right. Hahahah, mama, I was right!

Also, it just tickles me that of course, I would marry someone from another country/continent - - I have been enamored of foreign people, lands and languages since a child and am a self-described 'Europhile'. Sigh - it is just so fitting. And I can't WAIT to get my Euro passport!! Whew hew!!

What a wonderful year for my family and friends - babies, weddings, world travels and more! We are truly and so magnificently blessed :)

Cheers to my dedicated new husband, Patrick. I love you with all the pain and beauty that makes up my soul.

And finally: I am so grateful to God. So humbled...


Editor's Note ** - - And, yes, now that I am legally wed, and have had the Catholic ceremony in Ireland - all the pressure is off and we will be having the Big Reception soon - are you kidding me???? I ain't no 'Spring Chicken' but I have always known how to host a great party!!

Click below for Vegas slideshow:

Eloping in Las Vegas

Too Goody-Goody for Sin City

Alas, Patrick and I went to Las Vegas last Friday night. After proudly,conveniently and meticulously packing heels, a dress, bikini, some makeup and 50 sunblock (sheeit, how do you think my skin looks so good at 35??!)in a purse so that I wouldn't have to carry hardly anything I drove to P's house and waited for him to come from work. Time was ticking away and I was getting anxious about Friday traffic. He still had yet to pack even!! I reflected that why is it my last 2 boyfriends are such procrastinators when it comes to traveling and I end up being all stressed out and barely making flights - that is NOT me, at all!!

Of course, once we DID finally get to the airport and it was our turn to check me in (P had done his online already, but I couldn't for some strange reason) - I realized that in my packing so lightly I neglected to put my wallet and ID back in the purse!!!!!! I almost cried. And I must admit P could have gone off on me but took it very well - my good nature must be rubbing off on him- he he he. I did tell him to go on without me, and I would get a cab to his house where the wallet was and then try to get a later flight that night or next morning. He kept denying but I insisted. So we got back in line and at our turn I told the attendant I forgot my ID and was there any later flights I could go stand by on? Amazingly enough: he informed me that Southwest Airlines, indeed, will let you fly sans ID (!!!!!!!!!???) HOLY COW!! We were shocked beyond belief! I just had to go through secondary security and have my bag searched and me patted down. No sweat! They always do this to me anyway (no matter who I'm flying) as I look "Iranian" or something - sheeit.

So would you believe we made it?? As I sat next to P on the flight and told him I am just happy to be on the plane, he hilariously commented, "I finally got you figured out, E..." he began. "You are so low-maintenance that you are high-maintenance!" It was pretty funny, indeed (if ENTIRELY incorrect!) :)

A short time later found us in the McCarron Airport where we began walking towards baggage claim. Just as I commented to P, "We should look out for (friends) Mik and Stef.." I suddenly hear the thunderous sound of my ex Italian Miky running barefoot holding his fliflops down the corridor towards us with Stef about 10 feet behind yelling directions to him, "Go left...LEFT!!!" I already had known they were leaving Vegas the time we were arriving more or less and it was hilarious to see them like that. As it turned out they missed their flight but were able to catch a later one. Whew!

Enough of the excitement already. We stepped outside to the reality that Vegas was in a heat-wave. At 9pm it was over 100 degrees!! Ay, que calor!!! We had just enough time to get to our hotel, The Tropicana, minutes to change and meet Patrick's old navy buddy and roommate, Gary, and his wife, Shane, for dinner at the hotel New York, New York.

I had already heard some of the stories and adventures of living in North Park 15 years ago with Gary and some other buddies. And I had been warned of his sarcastic, but witty personality. But as I told P later, the minute I saw Gary and he opened his mouth I thought, "Another one of those gay STRAIGHT men!!!" Not sure if you understand that term I've used for years now but it means a man who is Straight but has some Gay mannerisms in speech, or dress, etc etc. My ex Mark was a proud gay straight man. So was Mik. Now, both these ex boyfriends are completely heterosexual, but it's true! And Patrick although not as obvious, DOES have a couple metrosexual tendencies at best.

Back to Gary.. he and Shane are newlyweds and expecting their first child this summer - she was glowing in her pending mother-to-be status - well, that and sweating in the heat :) Gary took us to an Irish place called "Nine Fine Irishman" because he hadn't had a Guinness with P in 15 years. The food was alright, but the drinks strong and it was quite a fun evening hearing stories of how everyone met, and the old days with P in the Navy. Gary is a big man in the hotel bar and restaurant industry in Vegas and he is as we speak on a plane now to live in China for 3 years (Shane will join him after their girl is born) where he is helping open some Vegas sister hotels there. Not bad for an ex ganja-smoking, skirt-chasing, beer-guzzling sailor boy from the South! It was a fun evening and I was very glad we got to see them before they leave on their huge adventure in China and parenthood.. By the time we left them it was getting pretty late. We went into the casino and Patrick sat down at Roulette (the only game I have gambled on - if you read my Lake Tahoe blog - link - from November). He won and lost and came out $40 on top before calling it quits. Hungry again we walked to the nearby Hooters Hotel (I never would have guessed there exists a Hooter Girls Hotel) - for him to get 99 cent shrimp cocktail and i had a fabulous slice of apple pie before calling it a night after 2am - ummmm!

After sleeping in Saturday we hit the downstairs cafe for breakfast (no buffets for us this trip - it's a waste for me, I just can't eat that much). Then we went back upstairs for another food-induced nap - hehehe. Well, in his defense P has been working really hard lately. I was glad he got to catch up on some sleep! And it was just so hot outside that we didn't even want to spend all day at the pool. But eventually we went down to it and grabbed some chairs in the shade - P is Irish after all - I didn't want him burning in the 111 degree heat! I understand there are a couple new trendy pool places (onethat's even topless and comes highly recommended by Italians Mik and Neno) but we had no desire for that scene or the $40 cover charge to get in. Leave that to the young, single folks. That said lots of chatting and relaxing on the chairs ensued and eventually P suggested a cocktail - returning with 2 football-shaped containers full of ice, juice and a tiny hint of rum (I felt nothing and I'm a lightweight). After a couple hours of still talking and sipping the sweet punch we finally went back upstairs to shower and get ready for a night out.
Previously mentioned Stef (sales rep for Leblon cachasa rum in San Diego and Vegas) very generously left us a $50 credit at hotel Mirage to use on their mojitos and Brazilian caprihinas. So after getting changed and walking slowly down the Strip we made our way to Mirage, stopping to look in hotels and casinos on the way. It was slightly but noticeably cooler that evening - I love walking around Vegas at sunset! It's fun to people-watch and as Shane had said, "You know you are in Vegas when you've seen Elvis, a bride and a bachelorette party." Well, we DID!

After some yummy drinks we walked back up the towards our hotel - a long haul! Our feet were starting to hurt and we were thirsty when P bought one of those ridiculously huge margaritas that took both of us 20 minutes to finish together! It also, by the way, had a tiny amount of tequila in it. Jeezus - I am a lightweight and we were paying over $15 for those drinks - and NO buzz?!!!
We went into the Paris hotel and P played more roulette and ended up winning $220 - almost paying for his plane ticket! I simply enjoyed myself watching, (no gambling for me) and people watching and spending time with my man in his retro bowling shirt - so handsome, my Patrick! *sigh*

So here is my take on Vegas: I love the desert heat but it was too hot this time of year to go. Also, I am definitely NOT a partier, drinker or gambler, so I can't really say I love Vegas. In fact, should I never go back, I'd be just fine. Don't get me wrong - it's very unique and interesting to people-watch. But it's NOT my cup of tea at all. I MUCH prefer all my past trips that involve hiking, camping, foreign languages and nature of some sort. I don't know if it's because I worked for years in the bar industry or that I model and am 35 or what - but I could care less about seeing women bursting out of their dresses, trying SO hard for attention and men having to spend all their money on women who might not even give them their number. Blah. If I had more money I would have definitely gone to see the theater shows - Phantom of the Opera, Spamalot, the Cirque du Soleil for axample.. and I would have gambled maybe $100 on roulette. But that's that as far as anything different than what we did.

That said, I'd go anywhere with my man. At least once..he he he

One More Try for Vegas...

So, my man, Patrick and I were chatting away as we do in our healthy relationship (he he he - we TRY and I DO have the Gift to Gab, ya know, so it's not too hard!) and we got to talking about Las Vegas. We came to the conclusion that neither of us, although having been there a couple times, still really know Las Vegas or have enjoyed it the way it may be possible (going with someone you really like spending time with for one, having time to actually walk and around and see things: number 2).

For my part, I've gone 3 times - which is NOTHING for a Southern Californian - I know people who go every weekend (my ex Italian told me he has met so many nice and beautiful people there that he is actually thinking of moving there just for a month later this summer to hang out). But that's a whole other story :)! If you are a loyal blog reader (or at least like it when I post pictures of me and model friends cleaned up a bit) you may have read this blog about the last time I went to Vegas about 2 years ago.

In any case I went once to audition for the National Tour of Les Miserables back in 1998 - and left the same day. Then I went with previously mentioned ex Italian boyfriend when he bought his car there and we only had lunch and drove back the same day. Then there was the blog above - which was all bells and whistles, along with 23 other gals from San Diego for an all-expense paid, VIP trip to The Bellagio Hotel - but you can read that blog for yourself.

I am not a gambler, a partier, and hardly a drinker. But I do like walking around, seeing new things and people-watching and I LOVE the desert heat so I'm excited that P and I are going there for the weekend. Read next week for any interesting stories and Elsa (Goody 2-Shoes) and her take on Sin City...

PS - to my girlfriends who I know will ask: NO, we are NOT running out there to get "hitched" by an Elvis-impersonator!

What DIDN'T happen in Vegas, Stays in Vegas

DISCLAIMER - While I am enjoying my weekend and getting my creative juices flowing I am posting an old blog story I guest-blogged on teawithlemon blog back in 2005. I know, I know: shame on me! But I promise there will be more recent elsa-goodies later! :)

For those of you working conventional jobs this might be of some amusement. I work several different jobs: as many artsy people do. This one was definitely different and I booked it through my friend, Stefanie's agency. In May 2005 after a very difficult interview and poloraid taken at a downtown club (hehehe) I was invited to fly out with 27 other San Diegan beauties (well, party girls anyway) by the LightGroup - an organization of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

Even at the audition I never really understood why we were being chosen to go to a free trip to Vegas and I must admit our agency owner never really made it clear herself. That said: it was a free trip there and Stefanie, Rachel and Brigetta were not going to let my goody goody status (I don't even LIKE Vegas) stop me from joining them on a night out.

We were all given free airline ticket, luxurious rooms, VIP treatment, dinner and paraded in the dinner club Fix, Carmel Bar Lounge and Light Club - all in the Bellagio Hotel. We were informed this was for 'networking' with execs and VIPS of the hotel... yeah, right. I suppose the 21 year old Charger girls with us believed that one. We were more like high class prostitutes – corralled into waiting bins like sheep, plied with judgment-debilitating liquor (I stopped at 1.5 mojitos and faked along with recently pregnant Rachel a vodka tonic for the rest of the night with tonic water and lime).

We were literally handpicked by some older (undoubtedly married) rich men who would stare at us and tell our ‘handlers’ (or pimps) which one of us was to be taken to their table for chit-chat and drinks. Stefanie was highly regarded by a trainer of the Pistons and I was dazzling in my Vanessa Rosas designer gown so I was chosen as well (what can I say - most of the girls were 10 years younger than us - how good could their conversing skills be with married, rich men??). Fortunately, Stef and I have much experience working parties and events and know the fine line of doing our job: feeding egos and making pleasant conversation without compromising our morals. It was a whirlwind trip (literally less than 24 hours in Vegas) and I am still not sure it was worth it. I didn't get a single 'networking' gig out of it - but the pineapple mojitos were simply FABULOUS!!

lasvegas05

click on photo for more pictures!