The Origin of "408Down"

It's not your typical alias, I know. I get a lot of guesses from SF Bay Area people familiar with 408 as the area code for greater San Jose and the surrounding area. Coincidentally, I spent a huge chunk of my childhood in that section of California, but that's not the reason for the nickname.

I've held off on writing the background story on 408Down for the reason that I had intended to post the tale on the anniversary of. We're about 8 months away from the third year since that night, so what better time than now to recount that story.

October 10, 2006: During work, a few of my co-workers and I discussed the idea of going to a club later that night. Obviously, this is typical weekday consideration for young Vegas professionals, so the idea of partying on a weeknight was not out of the ordinary. My sister tends bar at a local nightclub, so with access to the VIP line, the destination was immediately decided upon. The remainder of the day consisted of gathering more colleagues to join in on the fun. There weren't many takers, as it was a Tuesday.

10pm: Four of us met at Caesar's Palace, ready to party. We fought through the crowd that had already amassed at the club entrance, made our way to the front to let the bouncer know that we were on the list, and made our way in victoriously ahead of the mob. Of course we immediately made a beeline for the bar my sister was working.

I will say that having a sister who is a bartender is dangerous (that should be Dangerous! with a capital 'D' and exclamation point). She served us vodka mixers, where 98% of the drink was pure alcohol and the rest of the drink was literally a splash of either Red Bull or cranberry juice. Every sip was painfully strong, and yet we each managed to consume a few of those drinks between Jagermeister shots.

October 11, 2006: By this point we lost a party pal who decided to turn in for the night so that he would still be able to go to work at 7am. Smart guy. The remaining crew continued to dance and drink a bit more. When we realized that perhaps we should call it a night the time was close to 1:30am.

As we exited the club and cut through the casino, we all sensed our inebriation, and also decided that a quick trip to the potty was in order. The nearest restroom was located an escalator down from the casino area and had its own lobby area, equipped with benches and a shoe shine area. After finishing my business in the ladies' restroom, I returned to the lobby area to find my companions patiently waiting for me. This is the moment I decided to sit down for a quick break, and ended up passing out on the floor.

We were all pretty wasted from what I recall, but clearly, I was tanked. After ending up on that lobby floor, I don't remember much. The rest of this narrative is based on my friends' accounts:

Prior to passing out I told my pals that I just wanted to rest for a sec, and apparently continued to tell them so for about a half hour each time they attempted to get me to get back on my feet so we could exit the casino. I was so drunk that I remained unmoved.

A hotel security officer eventually showed up and advised my companions that they needed to get me out of there. My friends swooped me up by both arms, and practically carried me through the casino. Meanwhile, the security officer who was on the scene first followed closely behind us, summoning back-up on his radio with "We've got a 408 Down here, 408 Down exiting the casino."

I didn't go to work that morning for obvious reasons. However, my friend, Matt, took it upon himself to impart our previous night's adventure in gross detail to colleagues who would find interest in our tale, making sure to emphasize that the casino code for drunken, unconscious female is "408 Down." Many were entertained by the story, and it didn't help that I had a developing reputation as a party aficionado which I had long tried to keep under wraps. Word spread quickly about that night and consequently, the name stuck. Even one of the executives got wind of the story, and often greeted me with a spirited "408 Down!" every time I passed his office.

The moral of the story is: beware of excessive drinking nights. Friends may never let you live those moments down.

Yes, the image you see here is from that night of the 3 of us being escorted out. Good times.

My First Time at LVBnB

Last night was my first trip to Las Vegas Beer & Blog at the illustrious Freakin' Frog. Since I consider myself somewhat of a newcomer to the social media community, I felt like a high school freshman hanging out among the cool senior crew. Not only were we all bloggers, but many of us were already connected in one way or another, whether it was through Twitter or by association with another attendee. It turned out to be an overall fun networking event with a great crowd at a fairly good venue. The purpose of LVBnB is simple: local bloggers help eachother with their blogs with the added benefit of consuming brewskies in the process. There are several other chapters of BnB around the country, all who meet weekly with the same mission.

Attendance to Las Vegas BnB has grown every week since the chapter's initial meeting on January 15th. Ultimately, LVBnB aims to have guest speakers come in when possible to share their blogging wisdom with the group. I can only imagine that attendance may grow significantly as word of the BnB spreads, and also as prolific figures show up as guest speakers.

Here are some key points from my first BnB experience:

• I had never been to the Freakin Frog prior to last night. It's a cute little bar, but its ability to satisfy my beer thirst was a little iffy at the beginning. It touts hundreds of beers, but rotates the taps so I had to opt for what was available. They didn't have my favorite brews on tap, so I had to settle for Stella. I just needed to get halfway through that first pint in order for me to get over what I was drinking and finally embrace the simple fact that I was sipping on beer. Beer=satisfaction.

• Las Vegas Twestival will take place on February 12 at The Beatles Revolution Lounge at the Mirage. Tickets are now on sale, and all proceeds go to charity:water.

• JustJulie shared her Xshot Pro, which we took some awesome pics with. I've hinted to my pals there that I want one for my birthday. John even said that he immediately thought of me when he saw the Xshot for the first time. That's because aside from himself, I'm the biggest ham he knows.

• I missed seeing BnB Creepy Guy while I was there. Fortunately, the videos captured by Rally666, the Twitter play-by-plays, and photos on Flickr all made me glad that I didn't have a moment with Creepy Guy.

• Hurricane Mikey is an entertaining blogger, and is even more of a crack-up in person. He impressed me with his willingness to share his experience entering the blogworld about 6 years ago and how he has successfully built a broad readership in that time. Meeting him and listening to his stories, you get a sense of why people follow him. I didn't have much to offer him in exchange for his humor and wisdom, but I think I may have impressed him with my chugging skills.

I am looking forward to another Beer & Blog! I would encourage local bloggers, visiting bloggers, aspiring bloggers, and even non-bloggers simply interested in social media to check it out sometime. Don't forget, there's also beer to look forward to.

Found Cash: What Would You Do?

Last week, some highway workers in Indiana found over $130,000 stashed in a tire on the side of the road. When they realized that they encountered cash and not trash, they contacted the Indiana State Police. The authorities stated that they would attempt to find the rightful owner of the money, which may become property of the US government if unclaimed. The workers who discovered the money apparently don't get a piece of their find, and were simply praised for their "honesty and integrity."

This story led me to wonder what I would do if I stumbled on a large sum of money. My immediate thoughts were of greed: if no one was around, and it looked like it was sitting there for some time, why not? Who would know? But as I continued to think about it, the more the moral side of my conscience spoke to me. Turning the money into the authorities, just as those highway workers did, is the only right thing to do. I'm a believer in Karma, so claiming something that isn't mine would only curse me twofold. I suspect that I would be tormented by the guilt and paranoia that would come with stealing such a discovery, and I know that I would not be able to tolerate it.

The Roman poet Ovid once said, "Men do not value a good deed unless it brings a reward." Well in a situation like this one, peace of mind would be enough reward.

Putting On My Recruiter Hat

This morning I posted an ad online for an open entry-level position within my company. That was a little past 9am. Near close of business, I received about 30 resumes. Throughout the day I glanced at cover letters of sorts, resumes, and combinations of them. It was the sort of tedium that I prefer to avoid on a Monday.

Despite the humdrum, there are a few things I am quickly learning from this process. One, there are those out in the world who are not as resourceful as I would expect, nor do they seem to have much concern for how they present themselves. Perhaps it is a bit unfair of me to presume negligence on their part, when in fact it could just be plain naiveté. There is the ever-popular Spell Check, various sites that provide job-hunters with very useful advice, and even resume builders. Too bad people don't use these tools more often. Some of the resumes I reviewed were riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, or the layout was ill-constructed.

This brings me to my next lesson learned: First overall impressions determine whether applicants get an interview. Resumes are a reflection of who we are, what we have accomplished, and how we could potentially fit into an organization. However, organizing all that information the wrong way could have adverse results. This is something I finally understand from a recruiter's standpoint, and will keep in mind in cases where I may again be an applicant. In essence, those who are hiring don't have time to read every minor detail on any given resume. Furthermore, they don't care about the particulars that are not relevant to the job at hand. (Note to self: Brevity highlighting key, pertinent content is a must - time to reevaluate my own resume!)

On the ad, I listed basic requirements in order of importance. The top 3 criteria state that the candidate must be Spanish bilingual, have at least a high school diploma, and have a year of customer service experience. I developed a method to narrow down the best candidates by scorecard. If the resume or cover letter did not have indication that the applicant speaks Spanish, it was scored with a zero and completely disregarded. If a resume addressed all of the remaining basic requirements without me having to spend more than a couple of minutes reading it, it was assigned a base score. Job experience relevant to the position yielded even more points. Ultimately, the candidate pool was whittled down to seven prospects, out of the 34 resumes received.

Now time for some pre-screening phone calls to hopefully eliminate a few more applicants, just so I don't have to have more interviews than needed. I don't want to waste anyone's time, including my own. Besides, I'd prefer to avoid wearing my "recruiter cap" too much - it may have given me some insight, but boy, it sure is heavy!

Learning the Strings

With excitement, I am glad to announce that I've finally started guitar lessons! Finding the right teacher was a delayed process, one that started over a year ago. Two of my friends and I made the decision to start on our musical quest together, as we long shared a desire to play the instrument. We agreed to sit in a conference room, and interview some potential instructors by phone. The prospects seemed to offer a little something different based on their music experience, and yet they all made us even more excited to get started. Unfortunately, due to the availability of our chosen mentors and our own schedule limitations, we failed to make things happen.

That changed in October 2008. My friend and colleague, Kri, and I hired a new programmer into our company. Eric, as it turned out, was not just an experienced programmer but also a multi-talented individual. Coincidentally, one of his strengths is music. Eric plays the guitar, and honed his talent from the age of 12. Upon discovering Eric's secret skill, I asked him if he would would teach three of us who are very willing and anxious to learn to play the guitar. He eagerly accepted the challenge.

So, now on Mondays, in the now defunct studio located in our office building, Eric meets with the three of us gals for our weekly lesson. Instruction is simple enough for us amateurs who have never taken a lesson before, and Eric is both patient and encouraging. He has required that we practice daily, and by practicing an hour a day we will be stringing together notes in no time. It's a small sacrifice to pay for a fancy skill that I can add to my personal repertoire, and it's fun, too!

The Great Phone Debate

My phone should have died today. Like my car, my Motorola Razr is another possession of mine that is ready to be put to pasture, but I just can't let it go. It is still working after all, and provides me a wireless line of communication in its most basic form - and truthfully, that's really all I need.

Earlier, I was under the impression that the battery was completely exhausted of energy, and even a recharge couldn't save it. I almost resigned to the idea that it was time to buy a new phone. Why I deny myself a shiny new phone is beyond the comprehension of those around me. My friends tease that my the Razr is a technological relic that must be traded in for a brand-spankin new iPhone. Upon hearing the news that my aged phone had met its alleged demise, they were ecstatic that I would finally join their ranks. When I alerted them to the fact that the old phone's death was a false alarm, they became set on sabotaging it.

Friends and others of concern, I realize that the iPhone is a fun gadget. In fact it is the phone that features everything. But in all honestly, I don't need to be any more connected to you all than I already am now. All the fancy-schmancy stuff the iPhone provides are excess...luxuries that I don't have a need for right now.

Oh, who am I kidding? I'm getting an iPhone, dammit.

Football Rules the World

After postponing my Sunday brunch date with friends, my pal Todd wrote in response, "I’ll never understand your obsession with this football thing but that’s OK. The brunch will be there next weekend."

Sure, I canceled brunch over football, but rest assured, my friends don't think I'm a jerk. The trade-off isn't a big deal, and Todd is not the only person who doesn't get my enthusiasm for the game. I am a female after all, and definitely more on the princess end of the spectrum. I look like the kind of chick whose ideal Sunday might be spent shopping at the mall, or at the spa getting my hair and nails done, not planted in front of a TV cheering and shouting profanities at professional athletes. It is in fact true, however - I'm a football girl.

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 80's was a haven for football aficionados, even more so for Forty-Niner fans. The 49ers were the team of the 80's and had four SuperBowl championships throughout that decade to uphold the deserved title. As a result, football was religion in my childhood home, and the Niners were practically deities. I learned football fundamentals at Kindergarten age, had the opportunity to meet some of the players in person, and watched every victory parade that came through Downtown San Francisco.

To this day, despite the fact that the current team is not a reflection of the team it was in the 80's, I am a 49er loyalist, part of what Niners fans mutually call themselves "The Faithful." Football itself incites an excitement and familiarity in me that can only be explained by my own experiences in team sports and, of course, my football-filled upbringing. There is a sense of collective exhiliration and devotion that I love about the game, and I can't imagine losing that feeling for as long as it continues to be around.

In Pursuit of a New Car

I love to shop for shoes, for clothes, make-up, gifts, etc. Shopping for a car is a different story. Having to do the research, find the right financing, negotiate the best deal...too much work. I'm into instant gratification, and the path to finding a new car is obviously a very long process.

When I purchased my current car, a 2000 Eclipse, I was in and out of the dealership in a relatively short period of time. Mitsubishi had a $0 down, 0% interest for a year deal that I was itching to take advantage of at the time so it was essentially a no-brainer for me. I was still able to negotiate a decent interest rate and reasonable payments despite the hook, and I knew I could find alternative financing later too that would be in my favor. When I bought that car, I simply needed a compact car to drive around town and to get me to and from work. Everything was standard, and I wasn't looking for anything fancy, so the Eclipse was perfect.

That was nearly 10 years ago, so my taste and requirements have since changed. Sure, functionality geared to my personal standards is important, but do I compromise style and luxury for it? Without hesitation, the answer is yes. While a decade ago I envisioned myself driving a cushy ride in my 30's, I've realized that acquiring such assets translates into debt. This contradicts my 30-something lifestyle, when all I really want to do now is invest in the intangibles - travel, leisure - and instead have disposable income to enjoy the world. Screw this ownership thing! It irritates me to think that in the past few years, I've poured thousands of dollars into repairing the Eclipse in an effort to keep it running. Now it's brought me to a level of distress that I'm having to deal with. Car payments? Ugh. Having to repeat this car ownership cycle again? Blah. I may turn to leasing as my ideal solution, but still have to do my homework in the meantime. Wish me luck!

Affiliate Summit West 2009

Affiliate Summit West, taking place here in lovely Las Vegas, is considered the premiere affiliate marketing conference in the industry. Today, my colleagues and I finished up our first full day of exhibiting our products in a strategic attempt to generate more business for our company.

Yesterday we met in the morning to set up our booth in the exhibit area and then proceeded to the networking event called the "Meet Market" where affiliates and vendors had stations set up to share information about their programs or products in a preliminary attempt to do business with the early attendees. We meandered from table to table, exchanged pleasantries and contact information and, on occasion, teased people. Thank goodness these folks were fun and friendly.

As mentioned, today was our first full day in the exhibit area. This required a lot of standing around, reciting variations of the same product descriptions as people asked, "So what do you do?" We had a significant amount of foot traffic visit our booth, and ultimately a ton of strong leads. There is no doubt that we will build a handful of productive partnerships as a result of these leads, especially with the shared goal of more revenue at the forefront.

Despite the tired legs and the sore throats, we are looking forward to doing this all again tomorrow. There's nothing like the prospect of more money to distract us businesspeople from pain.

All Things Lunar

If you haven't already, make sure to take a look up at the sky tonight. According to NASA, tonight's moon is the biggest full moon of the year, with an appearance 14% larger and brightness 30% more than a typical full moon. How is this possible, you ask? Due to the elliptical nature of the moon's orbit around the Earth, the moon is in the perigee of its orbit, where the moon is near the closer end of the ellipse. The Moon is just a tad closer to us in this case.

Fortunately, I did get a chance to step outside in the early evening and observe the moon for myself. I can't say that I've ever really paid attention to a regular full moon, so I was oblivious to the size difference. However, the luminosity of the moon tonight was unmistakable. I could have read a book outside, albeit squinting, but still able to see. Tonight would have made a great camping night. Even now as I look out my window, the sky is dark blue as opposed to black.

Speaking of the moon, coincidentally, today is Global No Pants Subway Ride Day. The idea is the brainchild of New York actor Charlie Todd, whose purpose in organizing this event was to "create scenes of chaos and joy in public places." Going on 8 years now, citizens in cities with subway or mass transportation systems were encouraged to ride around town without pants. The No Pants event originated in New York, and has now spread to other metropolitan cities like Phoenix, and L.A., and even further out internationally to places like Amsterdam, Austria, and Poland.

The requirements for participation are simple: One, be willing to takes pants off on subway, and two, be able to keep a straight face about it. Kudos to the participants who managed to withstand the hilarity of the situation and control their amusement - I am certain I would not be able to restrain my own laughter. With that being said, will someone please bring this event to Las Vegas?!?!

Gym Forecast: Mostly Clear With a Chance of Busy

One week into 2009, and my spidey-sense says that some new year's resolutions are beginning to falter. No, I'm not psychic, so how do I know? Simple. Gym attendance.

On the 1st, despite my fear that it would be a zoo, I went to the gym early in the afternoon. People would be sleeping off the hangovers that resulted from the previous night's partying. Lo and behold, I was right. Skipped the next day, but went on Saturday morning. My logic for Saturday told me to be cautious about my time selection, so I went early enough that by the time I slipped out the gym door, everyone and their mamas were swarming into the athletic club.

With Monday being the first Monday of the new year, I was positive that workouts would peak shortly after the workday was over. Fortunately, I took that day off from work, so I hit the gym around 11am. Thank goodness no one in their right minds works out at lunch time, because the place was buzzing but not busy. As I left, I felt satisfaction in knowing that I would not have to deal with the chaos that I'm sure was expected later that night.

Tuesday after work the athletic club was bustling. I ended up having to park a quarter of a mile from the facility, it seemed. People were rushing in and out looking lost and frazzled with the same expression as that of shoppers on Christmas Eve. Often times when I cut through crowds that appear hectic, upset, or unhappy, I like to look people right in the eyes as they pass me and smile cute to see if it changes their expressions. On that day, I did just that. Only a couple of folks were receptive, but they made my day. Despite the impatience present in the ladies' locker room and the wait for occupied cardio machines, those smiles from earlier made my time at the gym a bit more tolerable.

I skipped working out on Wednesday. Typically, I like to break my exercise routine midweek so I can catch up on rest and relaxation. That, plus my hamstrings and adductors were killing me. I must have overdone the squats the day before. Until today, they're still stiff, but I don't care - I slept 10 hours on Wednesday night. Now that's rewarding!

So today is one week from January 1st, and the gym appeared less packed and more like a reflection of its October self. Are gym-goers really starting to trickle out of their new routines? Perhaps some of them overdid it the first few days, or even injured themselves (knocking on wood!). As I ran today, I felt a sense of pride in knowing that I am not a gym newbie, and that when the gym newbs cycle back around again next year, I'll still be the gal running her (hopefully smaller) booty off on the treadmill.

Starting Your Own Happiness Project

I became a follower of Author Gretchen Rubin's blog after coming across a written piece online entitled "10 Ways To Be Happier." Here are the suggestions she makes on ways you can simply improve your happiness quotient. To see the article online check it out here, and visit her blog site, too, for some uplifting reading and all-around good advice.

1. Don’t start with profundities.

When I began my Happiness Project, I realized pretty quickly that, rather than jumping in with lengthy daily meditation or answering deep questions of self-identity, I should start with the basics, like going to sleep at a decent hour and not letting myself get too hungry. Science backs this up; these two factors have a big impact on happiness.

2. Do let the sun go down on anger.

I had always scrupulously aired every irritation as soon as possible, to make sure I vented all bad feelings before bedtime. Studies show, however, that the notion of anger catharsis is poppycock. Expressing anger related to minor, fleeting annoyances just amplifies bad feelings, while not expressing anger often allows it to dissipate.

3. Fake it till you feel it.

Feelings follow actions. If I’m feeling low, I deliberately act cheery, and I find myself actually feeling happier. If I’m feeling angry at someone, I do something thoughtful for her and my feelings toward her soften. This strategy is uncannily effective.

4. Realize that anything worth doing is worth doing badly.

Challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness. The brain is stimulated by surprise, and successfully dealing with an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction. People who do new things — learn a game, travel to unfamiliar places — are happier than people who stick to familiar activities that they already do well. I often remind myself to “Enjoy the fun of failure” and tackle some daunting goal.

5. Don’t treat the blues with a “treat.”

Often the things I choose as “treats” aren’t good for me. The pleasure lasts a minute, but then feelings of guilt and loss of control and other negative consequences deepen the lousiness of the day. While it’s easy to think, I’ll feel good after I have a few glasses of wine…a pint of ice cream…a cigarette…a new pair of jeans, it’s worth pausing to ask whether this will truly make things better.

6. Buy some happiness.

Our basic psychological needs include feeling loved, secure, and good at what we do and having a sense of control. Money doesn’t automatically fill these requirements, but it sure can help. I’ve learned to look for ways to spend money to stay in closer contact with my family and friends; to promote my health; to work more efficiently; to eliminate sources of irritation and marital conflict; to support important causes; and to have enlarging experiences. For example, when my sister got married, I splurged on a better digital camera. It was expensive, but it gave me a lot of happiness bang for the buck.

7. Don’t insist on the best.

There are two types of decision makers. Satisficers (yes, satisficers) make a decision once their criteria are met. When they find the hotel or the pasta sauce that has the qualities they want, they’re satisfied. Maximizers want to make the best possible decision. Even if they see a bicycle or a backpack that meets their requirements, they can’t make a decision until they’ve examined every option. Satisficers tend to be happier than maximizers. Maximizers expend more time and energy reaching decisions, and they’re often anxious about their choices. Sometimes good enough is good enough.

8. Exercise to boost energy.

I knew, intellectually, that this worked, but how often have I told myself, “I’m just too tired to go to the gym”? Exercise is one of the most dependable mood-boosters. Even a 10-minute walk can brighten my outlook.

9. Stop nagging.

I knew my nagging wasn’t working particularly well, but I figured that if I stopped, my husband would never do a thing around the house. Wrong. If anything, more work got done. Plus, I got a surprisingly big happiness boost from quitting nagging. I hadn’t realized how shrewish and angry I had felt as a result of speaking like that. I replaced nagging with the following persuasive tools: wordless hints (for example, leaving a new lightbulb on the counter); using just one word (saying “Milk!” instead of talking on and on); not insisting that something be done on my schedule; and, most effective of all, doing a task myself. Why did I get to set the assignments?

10. Take action.

Some people assume happiness is mostly a matter of inborn temperament: You’re born an Eeyore or a Tigger, and that’s that. Although it’s true that genetics play a big role, about 40 percent of your happiness level is within your control. Taking time to reflect, and conscious steps to make your life happier, really does work. So use these tips to start your own Happiness Project. I promise it won’t take you a whole year.

Thanks...But No Thanks

Yesterday I received the following message on Facebook:

"I know that this is a pretty random email, but here it goes. I used to work at [former workplace omitted] with you and had somewhat of a "crush" on you. The problem was that I was too shy to even intoduce myself. I was a manager in Customer Care at the time and was mostly all business at work.

I'm curious to see if you remember who I am or not? I know that we passed in the hallways more then a few times.

So anyway, I was surfing around on FB and came upon your page. I figured I'd let you know and if at this point you do not think I'm crazy or wierd maybe we could meet up sometime?"

I haven't responded to this message, and doubt that I will. A few things crossed my mind while reading this. First off, what does "somewhat of a "crush"" mean? How many guys have I missed opportunities with because they were too shy? What number of people scope out social networking sites like Facebook to search for (or stalk!) crushes? Will Facebook ever institute a spell check tool in its messaging system?

As nice as this guy may seem, I wonder what compelled him to connect with me. It's been 3 years since I left that last job, so I find it hard to believe that any interest could endure or be reignited after such a long period of time. Also, I am apprehensive about being asked out via a social networking site or even online for that matter. It's not my style and quite honestly, a turn-off. Had this guy made an attempt to talk to me in person or pursue me at the old job, I may have considered it at the time.

Fortunately, my luck with guys has been quite nice lately, so I feel I can afford to be selective. I'm not the type to pounce on every male that shows the slightest hint of attraction towards me (of course the handsome and/or bold ones do get my attention, but I digress). Not that there's anything bad about this guy, but I'm simply not intrigued. Sadly, his chances are slim to none. Boys and girls: a word to the wise - don't squander any opportunity to go after something in the present, otherwise you might miss your chance forever.

Pre-Party Tip: Take a Nap!

Living in Las Vegas means parties happen non-stop, seven days a week. The night scene here really picks up late in the evening, the best starting midnight or later.

I've been to a good share of parties, most being on the Strip where the people are dressed to impress, drinks are continuously flowing, and where you lose all sense of time. Despite the music, lights, and dancing, the clock seems to stand still when you're having a great time, but before you know it, the sun is rising.
It does take some skill to be able to stay out all night. The experienced party people know how to pace themselves with the alcohol, still being able to get drunk without passing out or vomiting too early in the evening. Dancing, being a good cardiovascular activity, takes up a lot of your energy, and for the inexperienced this could mean tiring out before the rest of your party.

The trick to survive the long celebratory evenings is simple: take a nap. Whether it's a cat nap, a 20-minute power nap, or (my favorite) 3 to 4 hour slumber, recharge your batteries with a nap. Your party-ready self will thank you for it.

No Signs of Slowing Down

At the end of last year, I often thought about how much I wanted to slow life down a bit for myself. My social calendar is always full, I'm always on the go, and I realized that I spend a good portion of my life outside of the comfort of my own home. It would be nice to look forward to a weekend of doing absolutely nothing.

Not surprisingly, things still haven't changed. Of course it would be absurd to think that my busy life could so quickly decelerate, but naturally I am drawn to setting such an expectation. Some alone time is so welcome at this point that I consider taking vacation days from work during the week when I know everyone is at work and there isn't anything going on.

The problem isn't that there is so much to do in my life - it's really me. I rarely say no when friends or family want to do something or go somewhere. When I do say no to someone, there always seems to be a back-up opportunity that I can't refuse. So does that mean that maybe I need to cut people off or even out of my life? Do I need to simply put my foot down and say no?

The more I think about it, the answer becomes obvious: Perhaps I need to accept the fact that for now, life will continue to be a non-stop train ride and I need to just go with it. I know myself well enough to acknowledge when it is necessary for me to take a break. When the time is right, I'll know, but for the moment, it's not now.

I Don't Do Resolutions

Ahh...the New Year. Marking the new year means formulating personal resolutions for the upcoming year. I've decided that resolutions are for the birds, so this year, I'm simply making plans.

One thing I'd like to do more of this year is write. Blogging has been a really good exercise, and it's become less of a chore now and something more enjoyable.

My friend and fellow blogger, Linda Lou, has long been encouraging me to pursue getting something published outside of the blog world. Last year I had every intention of doing so, but had many excuses for not. Linda had practically handed me some fresh opportunities to go after, but I did not take advantage of the situation. Since I'm looking for something new to achieve this year, I figure that by diving headfirst into this endeavor, I don't have anything to lose. Plus, I'll have Linda to console me if I fail to keep up momentum or if things go terribly wrong. I can't imagine that things will go awry in the writing venue but just in case, I'll be sure to keep my day job.