D'OH!

I have been counter-offered...

What to do...

What to do...

I didn't see that one coming...Especially at the last minute...

dammit...

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end..."

Since my last post, I have gone through a whirlwind of situations...

I was offered the UCI job to work in Housing & Administrative Services. To be quite honest, I am shocked that I was offered the position. I thought 2 out of the 3 interviews did not go smoothly, but aparently I was wrong...The toughest part was not accepting the phenominal opportunity to move to something new, but rather telling Shannon I was leaving. We both burst into tears, and I know it was only a warm up to what my last day is going to be like...I have been too busy to really think about how I am going to deal with it, but I know it is going to be hard. For as much bitching as I have done about my job, the company really is great...and the comraderie really does mimick a family...I know it will be incredibly arduous to find another organization that has this element to it...But overall, I know I made the right decision...I am moving in a productive direction - one that will further my career. My bosses have all said that if I don't like the new job I am always welcomed back - and Shannon keeps telling me I will be back. Who know's...perhaps she is right...but for now...I just have a hell of a time saying good-bye. My last day at the Beacon is April 29th - this friday...

So, needless to say, these past two weeks at work have been ultimately stressful. I have not had much time to complete everything. And to make matters worse, they have not found a new receptionist yet.

But, on to happier topics...Weekend before last was great:
Friday: Went to Laguna to a wine bar with Eve, Paul, and some of their friends (one of them being a co-worker of mine's wife, minus my coworker). We drank and munched on crackers and cheese and had a blast. After, Eve, Kristin and I went to a Belgian restaurant, which was great. Not to sound ignorant, but I had no clue that Belgian cuisine includes the origination of french fries...
Saturday: Luis came down and we went back to Laguna just to hang out. The day was amazing, so we had lunch at an Irish pub, walked the beach, looked in gallery windows, had some ice cream and just had a relaxing afternoon. When our meter ran out, we headed to the Spectrum and saw the movie "Sahara". Highly recommend that film. Came back to my house and watched "Sideways" and then called it a night.

Last weekend was even more fun:
Friday night Luis and I went to Speed Zone and played a couple of rounds of minature golf before Luis's ball had an unfortunate meeting with the water fountain. I went back to his parent's house and spent the night.
Saturday: Went to the fashion district in downtown LA with Luis, Erika, Zoraida, and a family friend. Didn't even know the fashion district existed. So much stuff, no where near enough time...Our efforts to find Kika prom stuff and Zoraida a dress for a special event were successful...after 5 hours and only traversing 2 1/2 blocks, we headed back to Diamond Bar. The lovely Sanchez ladies gave us a fashion show...After some strawberry shortcake, Luis and I drove to Newport to put in some hours at my office. At 10:30, we called it a night, got some nachos from Alejandros, and headed back to Diamond Bar.
Sunday: Went to Carolyn & Chris's new place. Played with the kids, ate some grub food, hung out with Luis's cousins. Played some Texas Hold 'em, where I reinstated my "card shark" status by taking everyone's "money". Drove back to Newport and passed out...

There have been lots of other "happenings", but I really dont have time to write more...

Until next time...

Cheers!

I could write a book on all the things that have happened since I last blogged. As a matter of fact, life has been increasingly all over the place lately.

I drove back from Diamond Bar at 6:30am the morning of St. Patrick's day. Going off of about an hour and a half of sleep, I got ready and went to work. I sat at my desk for about a good three hours of staring in a glazed fashion at my computer screen and guzzling coffee -- at which point I was offered a chance to go out to lunch with a money manager. I know that hanging out with a money manager may not sound like oodles of fun, but typically an outing with one produces some great perks. SO, I went with the rest of the Beacon's motley crew to Thaifoon at Fashion Island. I had opted not to speak much, due to the fact that as the day dragged on my ability to engage in cogent and intellegent conversation began to rapidly deteriorate. (I had a few "cricket" moments, to say the least.) After our long lunch, I went back for another 2 hours of playing receptionist, where I managed to score an all-time high at Zuma (athankyou!). That night I decided to forego the St. Patty's day festivities so I could preserve all my potential energy for what was to come: VEGAS!!!

Now, Luis had no clue what was to transpire in the city of sin...We left his parent's house at noon and after a scare with the phone ("13 missed calls!?"), rain, wind, and a bet on the time we arrived at the Luxor. **As an aside, I do believe the Luxor to be one of my favorite hotels to stay at now having had the pleasure of doing so.** Anywho, we managed to score a room in the pyramid, despite the fact that my reservation was booked for the tower. (awwwwesome). When we got to the room, I busted out a bottle of pink champagne and some Maine lobster goodies that my mom had flown in for Luis to commend him on his degree. Before we knew it, it was time to go to "O"...("I'm at the BELLAGIO...") We hit up the bar and walked to the theatre, people watching and scoping out the high rollers and those who were posing as high rollers. "O" was awesome. The whole show is done in water - and if you haven't seen it, check it out. It is very European in a lot of ways, but worth the time. At the conclusion of the show, we were ready for dinner and more drinks...We opted not to eat in a sit-down establishment and feast at a random pizza parlor in the strip. The food was grub - the tall boy of Bud Ice really enhanced the experience. One of the pizza chefs, if you will, got into a heated argument with a patron and he jumped over the counter and went outside to kick his ass - that was awesome. For the rest of friday night, we gambled the slots, drank, and just hung out.

Saturday was a tad bit stressful for me. We woke up and stumbled down to the Luxor buffet...All the while I was on the lookout for Luis's real surprise: Dustin, Meera, Andy, Tiffany & Shannon - who were all staying in the same hotel...After we gorged ourselves, we walked around and started the drinking. On our way back up to the room, Luis decides he wants to check out a poker table. I looked at the table he was walking toward and DUSTIN & SHANNON were standing in front of it. I grabbed Luis's arm and I yanked him away from the table. He aparently had not seen either of them and was incredibly perplexed by my odd behavior. I made him go with me outside to "check the pool area" because I needed fresh air because I thought I "was allergic to my beer"...I found myself somewhat rattled at what had transpired that I immediately started talking out of my ass...Luis looked at me as though I were on coke and just let me have my spazz attack. The afternoon progresses and we "run into" Silvia, her sister Sandra, Sandra's fiance Ruben, and their cousin Daisy. We walked and drank with them for a bit. We get all ready to go out "clubbin" and head to Pink Taco at Hard Rock for dinner, which is where we had arranged to meet up with the surprise. Julie, Brian, Daniel and Jamal met up with us as well and the party was on. Luis was surprised. Food was great...They had beer buckets...Hard Rock is officially my favorite hotel EVER. After dinner we got into RA, which was conveniently in our hotel. We had a near-Club Elan experience, in that when we rolled up, no one was dancing...So a few of us shook it and sure enough, the people came. I somehow over the course of the evening managed to smack Dustin in the face with my beer bottle at least 5 times. At about 2:45am, Luis observed that we had officially stopped dancing and were just robotically swaying to the "music" (I use that term loosely), and that our time would best be spent elsewhere. I was WAAAAAASTED and really wanted a sandwich, so we stopped by the cafe and bumped into Daniel and Jamal. I snaked some food and we all headed up to the room.

I woke up on Sunday morning still drunk and unable to hear a damn thing. I hadn't realized how loud the club had been the night before. Around 11am, we all cleaned up and checked out of the Luxor. We tried to get Luis's car out of hock - uh, I mean valet - but aparently the Luxor needs to make life more difficult and have like 4 different valet sections. Aparently, you can only retrieve your car from where you left it. After the confusion, we made our way to the Mandalay Bay Champagne buffet where we hooked up with most of the group. After brunch, half of the group started their journey home...Luis and I were staying another night at Treasure Island to relax and Dustin and Shannon weren't leaving until 8pm that night...On our way out of Mandalay, Daniel and I decide to play a slot machine to try to win a car. At that specific moment, I noticed that my ID was missing, but I figured it was in the car and all would be good. Not but 2 minutes after my discovery, the cocktail waitress comes over to offer us drinks. I place my order and INSTANTLY she starts giving me attitide. She cards me and then chastizes me for not having it. She made me step away from the gaming area and contined to lecture me about how i MUST have it at all times while on the casino floor...Did she card anyone else in our group? NO...bitch...at any rate, we played and we left without the cool car on top of the slot machines. Said our goodbyes to Daniel and Jamal and headed out to the Treasure Island. Shannon, Dustin and I snagged food, drinks and before we knew it, it was their turn to head to the airport. Luis and I were exhausted and still couldn't hear a damn thing...We gambled, drank, and called it an early night. Very relaxing...

Monday morning came and I felt rested - somewhat. We grubbed at the cafe downstairs and played Keno. After walking around a bit (as a digestive tactic) we decided it was time to leave Vegas and head home. I kicked his ass at the ABC game and we were bombarded by butterflies on his windshield. I had some GRUB dinner at the Sanchez house and headed home. I couldn't track my mom down at all and I had some confusing message that sounded like she was in the hospital...After some panicking, I realized it was my uncle in ICU and not her...a stressful couple of days were ahead. As it turned out, stressful for Luis too...Vegas recharged us for the stress of the following week...

My Mom came down on wednesday of last week and we stayed at a hotel until friday. I dragged her to the pub for the last night. We stayed until the beer ran out...I made my peace...Friday we drove to San Diego to see my Dad. Stayed there until monday morning and drove straight to work. my mom left very early tuesday morning...it was good to visit with them.

For now, today I have a phone interview for a job (shhhh! it's a secret) and then I am off to see the IRVINE FEVER :) can't wait!

Sorry for the painful detail of this blog...