End of the Year

So I haven't quite gotten around to blogging about our new place yet. In fact, I haven't blogged about anything, in a long time. I think I use my blog the most when there is a lot on my mind, or when I'm really stressed out. But lately, I haven't been too concerned with much, nor have I been overly stressed. I know, terribly boring, right?

Ever since I left the bank and took the simple clerk position at the store, my work stress has melted away. Sure, I wish I was making the money I used too, but that day is wide open when I want to return. Staying home with Lucy is not only saving us sitter money, but it's been so good for my soul. Therapy that money can't buy. Plus, Mommy has a better piece of mind when Daddy has her baby. Not that anything is wrong with the sitter, we love her, it's just better to raise your own babies if possible.

The other major stress in my life has taken a dramatic turn. I once thought my relationship was over with my Father, but it's far from that. Not only are we talking, but we've hung out, watched a game, had lunches, and talk and text regularly. He's going through some rough patches of his own right now, but I'm here for him and glad that he's around. I'm not sure Lucy understands yet that she has another Grandpa, but when she sees him she tells us that "he's cute". Not a bad impression I guess! Haha.

Back to the house. It's big. Not huge by any means, but big for what Jill and I are a custom to. We love every aspect of the house, except for the location. Nothing wrong with Saratoga Springs, but we are city people, and the cows, winds, and the combo of two aren't our cup of tea. One day we'll find the right place, but for now, this works very well.

We just had Christmas, and I have to say it was highly successful. Lucy loved her toys, especially the toy kitchen Santa brought, and the doll house her Grandparents gave her. She kept making "soup" all day on kitchen burners and would make everyone taste it. Then she'd play with the doll house and constantly flush the toilet to hear the sound effects. She's one funny kid.

But life is really good right now. Not too many highs or lows, just a steady flow of happiness. Oh, except for one really BIG HIGH that happened. We found out that Jill is pregnant with baby #2!!! Can't wait for this, yet wish time would slow just a bit as I watch Lucy grow so much. Many people think we'll have a boy, which could pose a problem. Jill and I don't agree on any boy names. We'll need all the help we can get!

Well, I think that is enough info for now. Hopefully all three of you that still read this are all caught up. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and wish you a Happy New Year!

New surroundings

This time next week I'll be sleeping in my bed, with my blanket, next to my wife. However, the feeling will be much different. Jill and I are moving out of the condo that we've called home for around 5 years, to a new, much bigger place.

I've lived in the Salt Lake valley for about 28 of my 32 years on this planet. It's going to be very weird crossing down into Utah county. Though it will be a little familiar, I did live in Lehi for 6-8 months with my Dad when I was in 9th grade. However, since that time Lehi has gone from around 10,000 people, to over 50,000. Technically, we'll be in Saratoga Springs, but it's pretty much the same thing.

I'm excited to move out, not excited to move. Moving has to be the worst thing. Packing up all your junk, lifting the heaviest things you could imagine, and living for a few days or weeks in a land of cardboard boxes. Hopefully we'll be in our new place so we won't have to do this again for a while.

Lucy loves the new place. It's has three levels and she's very found of climbing up and down stairs. The room she is moving into has safari animals painted on the walls and she loves looking at the "kitties and effalents".

Once we move in I'll write a blog about the new home and about all the notable things that have happened around here lately. But as of right now I'm a little overwhelmed by it all and it will have to wait.

Is it election time yet?

Wow. Politics bring out the worst in people. Thanks to modern technology, everyone thinks it's ok to spout off their personal political beliefs on the internet. They post half truths, misconceptions, and flat out ignorance on their Facebooks, Twitters, and blogs. If you don't buy what they're selling, drama follows. I've seen close friends and family members at each others throats because they have different ideas. It's insane.

I'm not playing. My beliefs are mine, and I am more than welcome to discuss, debate, and explain my feelings. But I will not post them online and basically tell everyone that doesn't believe them that they are bunch of idiots. I just can't believe the way people talk to each other. So much racism, negativity, and stupidity. It's giving me a headache.

We live in a country where we are allowed to choose the representatives that we want. That doesn't give us the right to fight, belittle, and just flat out be rude to each other if we disagree. Do your talking at the polls people. Perhaps before hand, do some real research on each candidate too. Both parties play with half truths and the news reports it as they see fit.

In the meantime, leave the hate alone. Nobody cares that you "know" that Obama is a Muslim, or the Romney isn't a "true Christian" and all the other dirt. Vote for your state representatives, you do know that the House and Senate play a role too and that the President doesn't have absolute power, right? Then stick to policies and facts. And finally, be kind to one another. Hate is such an ugly thing.

Weddings, Vegas, Seattle, and a water logged phone

It has been a busy summer. I've blogged a bit about the craziness surrounding my job, but in between all of that, I have had a bunch of weddings to go to. A bunch equals 3. But 3 is quite a bit when you're involved in all of them as Jill and I have been. Not to mention that one was north of Seattle and another was in Vegas. Not only has it been the summer of job uncertainity, it has also been the summer of love. Let me begin with wedding #1.

My best friend of 25 years married the woman of his dreams on June 30, 2012. It was such a cute wedding. Karen, the bride, made all of the decorations including cute Jones Soda bottles that featured their cake toppers in different scenes. Those cake toppers, she made too! My best friend, David, has never looked happier. He's a private person so I won't go into much more detail about the wedding other then to say that it filled my heart with so much joy and happiness. I gave a toast that day to the bride and groom, and I was told I knocked it out of the park. Also, June 30th has always been a sad day for me, as it is the day my mother passed. Now June 30th holds a happy and special place for me. Congratualtions David and Karen.

The next wedding we went to was in Las Vegas, for Jill's brother, Brady, and his soon to be wife, Lara. On July 13, 2012, Jill and I were lucky enough to take part in such a beautiful wedding for these very special people. Jill was a bridesmaid and I was a groomsman. My father-in-law and mother-in-law rented a big house in Vegas for the family to stay in. The place had a pool, and Lucy got to swim for the first time. Vegas was very humid during this trip and it even rained a few times, but it cleared up in time for the wedding. Both Brady and Lara looked amazing. Their venue was awesome and it was a perfect setting for these two. It was an honor to be apart of it and I wish nothing but happiness to them.

The last wedding of the summer was for Jillian's best friend, Brook. Along with their friend, Monica, they've been best friends for around 20 years. I met Jill, Monica, and Brook back in 97-98. Back then Brook and I got along better than Jill and I did. In fact, back then Jill didn't care too much for me. But that is another story all together. Anyhow, back to the wedding. Jill was a bridesmaid for this wedding and she looked wonderful. I don't have any pictures of the wedding myself as I sadly didn't make it. Between having to take care of Lucy, who wasn't feeling well, I too wasn't feeling well and I wasn't in the best mood. A few days prior I decided to take Lucy swimming. After a few laps in the pool I realized my wallet, which contains my iphone, was still in my pocket. Epic fail. So Jill and I decided it would be easier for her to help Brook if Lucy wasn't their trying to get to Jill. She's been on a Mama kick. If Mom is around she has to hold her 24/7 or she cries. So I missed the wedding, but Jill has gushed about how cute it was, how handsome Tim looked, and how amazing Brook looked. I send my love and best wishes to the couple and hope for many wonderful years for them.

So there you go. A quick run down of the weddings we went to this summer. They were all amazing in their own ways. I saw my best friend marry. Jill saw hers marry. We also saw a brother marry, and we gained a wonderful sister. It's been a pretty wonderful summer if you ask me. That is, if I don't think about that darn iphone!

Baseball Stadiums

I just got back from a trip to Seattle. I plan on posting a blog about that trip in the future, but as you can tell by my spotty blog writing that it may or may not happen. The intent is there. However, instead of that blog I want to just post a quick one about the baseball stadiums I have been to and which ones I like best. When we were in Seattle I saw a Mariners game and got to visit Safeco Field so it got me thinking about my favorite stadiums. I'm no expert either. I've only been to a handful of places. I'll keep this baseball specific, no stadiums where I've seen NFL games but not baseball. Also minor leagues need not apply. Besides, nothing beats the view from Spring Mobile Ball Park in Salt Lake City!

1 - Citi Field, Queens NY. What can I say? I'm a Mets fan. Unfortunately I never got the chance to visit the Shea Stadium. I've heard both good and bad about the old home of the Mets. I have however, visited Citi Field. Jill and I went to a Mets/Phillies game in 2009, the very first year the stadium was open. Obviously being such a new park in a baseball crazy part of the country it's going to have its perks. The park is beautiful. The food is great. The architecture and amenities really can't be beat. The ease of travel to the stadium via the subway is excellent. The stadium is packed with not only Mets history, but that of the Brooklyn Dodgers and NY Giants too. The only real drawbacks of this park are that the Mets play their (j/k I love those guys) and that it's right next to Laguardia Airport and you can hear the planes take off...a lot. But really I can't say enough good about the place. I loved every minute there!

2 - Coors Field, Denver CO. I've seen more baseball games in this park than all the others combined. I guess you could say as far as MLB is concerned, this is my "home" team. Being a short flight away, or a 9 hour car ride, Denver is the closest MLB city to Salt Lake. My Mother-In-Law lives in Colorado, so when we visit her I try to swing by the stadium. Coors is just a good stadium. Great field. Awesome food and shops. Fun game day experiences. Nice fans. Just everything about this place is above average. But my favorite thing about the park is it's location. Built in an area called LoDo (lower downtown), the stadium is right in the city. When you walk around the upper deck mezzanine, you have the best views of the city. I can't wait to go back and see another game!

 

3 - Fenway Park, Boston MA. There is something much different about the East Coast. It seems like people out there take their baseball much more serious. When Jill and I drove from Boston to NY, every car we passed had either a Yankee bumper sticker or a Red Sox one. A few misguided souls had Mets stuff, but it seems everyone made their choice clear. But back to the parks. Fenway isn't a stadium, it's an experience. As the oldest stadium in use, is has tons of charm, and many quirks. The field seats we bought were wooden and a bit narrow for the husky fellow. Random beams holding up the upper deck can obstruct some views. Other than that, the park is amazing. The streets around the stadium shut down and vendors sell their items on the road. The "Green Monster" in left field, along with the other outfield dimensions are so different and weird, it really makes the game played much different than at a traditional field. I can't wait to go back and see them again. Oh, and Jill fell in love with the park, city, and team, and she now claims the Sox as her own.

4 - Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles CA. Growing up my family liked the Dodgers. I remember my Dad telling me they were his favorite team. I don't really remember him watching them, but I did take it upon myself to become a fan. I studied them and loved them. As I grew up I decided I wanted my own favorite team and I followed Mike Piazza's departure to the Big Apple. A couple years ago I went with my Father-In-Law to a couple Mets/Dodgers games in LA. Oh, by the way, my Father-In-Law just might be the biggest Dodger fan alive! The games were so fun, bantering back and forth with him and the rest of the family. The park itself is a bit older, opening in 1962. However, with some renovations here and there, it still holds its own. The Dodger dogs are famous, but might be a tad overrated (sorry Ken). The outfield walls are fairly deep and have similar dimensions, making it known as a "pitchers park". The coolest feature has to be the location. It's built in the side of a hill in LA. If you are sitting in the upper deck, you just park higher up on the hill and walk right into the stadium from there. No need for stairs or elevators. Oh, another plus... LA weather!

5 - Safeco Field, Seattle WA. This stadium is cool, but there was just something about it that made it so I couldn't love it. I'm still not sure exactly what it is either. The field was neat, but no real quirks or weird walls in the outfield. The design of the retractable roof was pretty cool though. We were one day short of watching the perfect game that happened, but we still saw a really cool game. I did enjoy the endless soda deal they run, but outside of that I was never really in awe like I was about the other parks. Maybe it was the record heat wave, the long walk to the park, or the fact it was the Mariners? But, despite the fun I had (which was quite a bit), I didn't really think the stadium was too big of a deal.

6 - The Coliseum, Oakland CA. I'm just going to refer to this place as the Coliseum since it's had about 95 different names over the years. I went here about 4 years ago with my friend, Adam, on a spontaneous trip to San Francisco. The Giants were on the road, so we drove across the Bay Bridge for an A's game. How can I say this nicely? This place is a dump. It's cramped, the mezzanine areas are dark, uneven, and painted a horrible shade of green. The food was so-so. The restrooms were as bad as outhouses, and the urinals were practically tubs that everyone just uses together - ick. The field is boring due to the fact the park is a multipurpose stadium and also is the home of the Raiders. We went during football season and you could see the NFL field still painted on the grass. But even though the place was a dump, something really cool happened there. We happened to go on a fire works night and we got to sit on the actual field to watch the show. Adam I stood on the field and thought about all the legends in MLB and the NFL that have played there. Other than that, nothing is good about this old, boring park.

So that's that. Like I said, I haven't been to very many. I've seen many games in minor league parks, and I've even been to some of the Spring Training parks in Phoenix. Jill and I would like to travel the country when we are retired to hit up all the stadiums we can. Until that happens, I hope to keep adding a new stadium or two here every year. 

Date days with Lucy

When Jill was pregnant, people would always ask me if I wanted a boy or a girl. I honestly had no preference, but Jill and I always had a feeling we'd have a girl. I'd always had dreams about our child being female and we even had a name picked out for her way before we were pregnant. For those who don't know, I was named after my Grandma on my mothers side. Her maiden name was Lucille Matthews. I, obviously, was given the family name as my own, and I had always wanted to name a daughter Lucille, after my wonderful Grandma too. 

After Lucy was born, people would still ask if I was ok with having a girl, or if I really wanted a boy. They'd ask if I was a little sad that I didn't have a little boy to play sports with, or whatever it is little boys do. I'm always taken back by this question. Why would anyone be sad to have one gender over another? Children are children. Sure boys and girls are different, and I'm sure when Lucy starts to become a woman I'll be clueless and terrified for my safety. That said, I have never wished Lucy wasn't a little girl. I am head over heels for her.

My love for Lucille Joy Mabey can not be accurately described in words so I won't try to break it down. What I can say is that I love her more than life. She is so wonderful and always makes me smile. Right now as I type she's watching SpongeBob and laughing out loud and it's cracking me up. Everyday she says something new, or she surprises me by giving me random hugs and unexpected kisses. It brings this fat kid to tears more often than I'd like to admit.

One thing I want to do for Lucy, no matter how many children Jill and I have, is that I always want to make time to take her on Daddy/Daughter dates. Just a little one on one time so she'll always know that she is important to me. Right now one of our favorite activities is to go to Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park. Lucy loves birds. She runs around and waves at all the birds and makes sure to say"hi" to them. I've been taking her there since she's been able to leave the house and each time is a new experience. As much as Lucy loves going, I know I love it even more because I get to watch her and her interactions with the birds and with the other people at the park. She is so smart.

Usually after the park Lu and I go grab some lunch together. Sometimes we go to the Jasmine Bistro by the lot formerly known as Cottonwood Mall. Watching Lu discover new food and tastes is so cute too. It's funny to watch her chow down on California rolls, tempura, and other Asian dishes. We have so much fun and it warms my heart.

So no, I don't have a little boy, and it doesn't bother me. There is no way having a boy is better than this. It might be just as good, but defiantly not better. I think there is a special bond between a father and his girl, and it's a wonderful thing. Any father with a little girl knows what I mean. 

Lucy, this is a promise to you. Your Daddy will always make time for you. We will continue to do these forever. No matter where my job takes me, no matter how many kids your Mom and I have, no matter what, I will always make time for just you. You are so special to me and I want you to always know it. 

My Light

Uncertainty has been the theme of my life as of late. Wavering between jobs. Wondering if the money I walked away from in my management position was worth giving up. Fears over how good of a job I am doing with Lucy. I've been sleeping very hard and deep lately, which isn't normal for me. But because of this I seem to remember my dreams better than ever, and I wish I didn't. My dreams are full of these uncertainties and I often wake up unrested and even more stressed.

I don't know what I am suppose to do or how I am really suppose to be. I try to be a good friend to those around me, but more importantly I try to be a better husband and father. What truly matters to me is Lucy and Jill. Am I making the right choices for them, or am I being selfish and looking out for me? Of course I want to be around them more and I want to do work that makes me happy, but was cutting out the money the right choice? I guess the jury is still out on that one.

What I do know is that through all of this craziness I have had the unwavering support of my beautiful wife. She's dealt with my highs and my lows. She's laughed with me. She's listened to my rants. She's consoled me when I've been down. Whatever I needed her be, she was, by my side. I've been a mess and she's been right there beside me to dust me off and set me right again.

Though my life seems to be a whirlwind of confusion, she has been my guiding light in the darkness. My foundation to keep me stable. Without her I'd be lost. I know I talk about Lucy a lot, like any proud papa would, but Jill is my world. Without her there is no Lucy. Without her, there probably is no Matt. Her love and support keeps me going and I hope she knows how much I care. Any ounce of true happiness I have left is from what she gives me. I hope I give her just as much in return.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make" - Paul McCartney

Old Faces

I've been floating around at my bank job. Covering branches all over the valley and even up to Park City. The really fun and nervous thing for me in doing these shifts have been that I have covered branches that are located inside the grocery stores I have been working in. I've covered the Sandy store where I managed for the past 5 years. I've covered the store in West Valley where I decided to step down at. I've also covered the current grocery store I have been working at part time, and am returning to soon. It's been weird seeing so many familiar faces, but from the other side of the fence. It was weird working in West Valley and seeing those folk, but it didn't really bother me. Working in my current store was just kind of funny. However, working in the store that I managed for all those years was kind of hard. I miss those people. Many of them I consider my friends. I miss running that store.

It had its moments, but I am a prideful man, and I took pride in that place, and the staff. Now watching someone else do my job is just weird. I know I made the right choice stepping down. I know I made the right choice in trying the bank. I also know I made the right choice in taking a job back with the grocery store so I can be with my daughter more. The thing that is hard is that I didn't choose to leave this store. I was transferred because I was told the West Valley store needed me and I HAD to go. I never got to say goodbye to these people the way I wanted. I miss the conversations with Tyler, my boss. I miss the laughs I had daily with the likes of Arlie, Ashlee, and Travis. I miss being the "big brother" to many kids. I miss the endless geek talk with Geoff, Bobby, and Ben. I miss them all.

Life is a journey, and the past few months have been strange indeed. Luckily though I have this chance to see so many wonderful faces at my old store. I didn't expect to be back in this store, especially on the other side of the counter, but I'm going to make the most of it. Two shifts with my friends and then it's on to the next chapter, this time by my choice.

Opportunity Knocks

Less than a month ago I wrote a blog about my decision to leave my current job in order to take one with a bank. My reasons for doing so were simple. Less stress and more time with the family. Easy choice, right? I've been employed with the bank now for a little over a month. I'm still in the training faze and am really not much of a banker yet. I do enjoy the bank, my coworkers, and the customers. I've even been awarded a service award from my District Manager for excellent customer service. Things are pretty good here. So then why did I just put in my two weeks notice?

Yep, after all the training dollars spent on me by the bank, after telling my previous job (that I have 15 years of service with) that I'm done with them, after having a friend at the bank sticking her neck out for me to even have this job, I'm just walking away. What's wrong with me?

Opportunity. I had an opportunity open up and after reviewing it, it was too good to pass on. The major factor in seeking employment at the bank was the ability to spend more time with my daughter. I've spent much more time with her lately and it has been wonderful for me, and hopefully for her too. See, I'm still currently employeed by my first job. I've been working there randomly to keep my foot in the door. My good friend, Brian, is a manager there. After talking to him we noticed how I could return to work there, making as much, if not more than at the bank, while working less hours, and being home with Lucy when Jill is at work. More money and Lucy is being raised by her parents 100% of the time? Did I really have a choice?

It seems fairly simple to me. I work the weekends, which I did anyways at the store, and then one more day midweek. They'll be long shifts, 10+ hours. But by doing so, I'll be home the rest of the week. When I'm putting in those hours, Jill will be home with our little one. She will always have one of us around. No more daycare. Jill won't have to get up early to get her ready and then come home late after picking her up. No more tears when dropping her off with the sitter (more of Jill's and mine than Lu's). That thought makes me very happy.

So I put in my two weeks today. Even though I haven't been here long, it was one of the hardest things I've done. I've been sick to my stomach over doing so. So many good people at the bank have looked out for me. I feel terrible to be leaving them all so soon. I hope they all understand my reasons. I know my friend, who got me this job, is very supportive. She sent me a very nice text that has helped ease my worries. I've also been worried about letting her sitter know. She's a sweet lady, and I know she cares for Lucy very much. I'm sure we'll still use her here and there when needed, which is ok by me, because I know Lucy loves her too.

So there it is. The craziness that has been my 2012 continues. I'm still keeping my options open for that perfect job too. No need to jump into anything that isn't just right. What's right for my family right now is to make the money I can, and for Jill and I to always be availbe to our girl. I'm looking forward to this new "job" of fulltime Dad. I can't think of a better gig out there.

LasVegas Hotel Review 2012 Updated

Las Vegas Hotel Review Part 3

Back in December of '08 I made a list of my favorite Las Vegas hotels that I have stayed in. I updated it again in 2010. Since that post I have stayed in a few more rooms that I hadn't before. So I will repost my original blog but I will add in the reviews of the other hotels I have since stayed in. This review is subject to my hotel stays and not based off how cool the place looks.

 20. La Concha. I stayed at the La Concha during my many retreats after high school graduation. It would always be a spur of the moment decision to run off to Vegas with a group of friends. We were all minors and this was a rare place on the strip that let you rent a room under 21 and without a credit card. It was a major dive and I swear one room we had was once a murder scene. The trips were well worth it though. The motel has since been demolished for condos.

 19. Westward Ho. The reason this room is listed so low is because I don't remember much other then it looked like a brown Motel 6 room. I was only around 9 or 10 when I stayed here so I don't remember it so well, other then I wasn't into the Cowboy theme. This was around the time MC Hammer was rocking my world. Sheesh... This motel has been torn down and is a future site for a McDonalds.

 18. The New Frontier. On my honeymoon Jill and I traveled to Disneyland and had bookend stops in Vegas. On the way out we stopped at the Stratosphere, and on the way home we stayed at the New Frontier. The Casino was dingy and dark. It smelt of Cigars from years past. The room had a nice view of the strip, but the bed was hard, the room smelled, and it felt dirty. It did have some old Vegas charm and we laughed at the beer bottle opener built into the marble sink tops. The New Frontier has recently been imploded and a Swiss themed hotel is scheduled to take its place.

 17. The Sahara. The ONLY reason I place the Sahara this high is because of the great times we've had watching The Amazing Jonathan performances. He no longer plays here, but he still performs in Vegas and I highly recommend his show! The Casino is ok if you like to gamble. The food is edible, but the rooms here are hands down the worst rooms I have stayed in, in Vegas. The beds are full size, not queen. The doors do not reach the ground so the hall lights shine in. The walls must be made from cardboard as you can hear your neighbors every move. The rooms do not feel clean, and even though they can be the cheapest room on the strip I suggest you pony up the extra couple dollars and stay at the other cheap hotels like The Stratosphere or Circus Circus. *Update 2012 - The property has since closed. The owner says there is a chance he may reopen it down the road.

 16. Harrah's. I stayed here as a kid and they used to shine green lights at the building at night to make it glow green. I remember these lights being intrusive and interrupting my slumber. They no longer shine these lights however, and the room was clean and nice.

 15. Stardust. As a kid, the Stardust was my favorite place. Back when Vegas was about the lights and not the huge buildings and crazy architecture. The Stardust seemed futuristic and the pink and purple lights lit up the night. The rooms were simple, but clean. The Echelon resort is being built on the site the Stardust once stood.

 14. Imperial Palace. This hotel/casino has the worst car access from the strip. If you are driving south on the strip it takes forever to turn in. The Casino is small, but fun. The rooms are ok, but have nothing to do with the Asian theme of the resort. The only reason to stay here is the low room prices and the excellent strip location.

 13. The Tropicana. The room we had here was a corner room, which are much larger then the standard room. It had a really nice view of the strip. But this room was located in the back tower which took forever to walk to from the hotel lobby. The rooms felt too warm even with the ac on. They also had tacky mirrors on the ceiling. Nothing about this room was really great, but nothing was really wrong either.

 12. The Stratosphere. This place is my safe bet. I've stayed here many times because of the cheap prices, clean yet simple rooms, fun casino, good shows, and of course the Tower. Nothing about this place is mind blowing, but it has never let me down. I love the Tower and seeing the Vegas lights from 1,149 ft in the sky. The rides at the top are excellent, if not down right scary. The shows we've seen here are fun and between the mall and casino, there is always somewhere to go. If you want to do Vegas for cheap, yet still fun, I recommend this place. Just be warned, the pool is nasty.

 11. MGM Grand. As far as a casino and resort, the MGM Grand has it all. It is one of my favorite places to play, dine, and hang out in. They have a lion habitat in the casino with very large lions roaming around. Alright, they mostly just lay around, but it is still awesome nonetheless. But as far as the rooms go, they are clean and comfortable but the walls are paper thin. To make matter worse it seems like the "I'm only in Vegas to get drunk and act like a retard crowd" choose this hotel. *2012 update - The Lion Habitat has closed. They are also remodeling the front entrance by the large gold lion. We were told by an employee it is part of the re-branding of the property. I guess we'll see what happens.

 10. NY NY. Like the MGM Grand, I love the casino and theme of this hotel. The restaurants here are all great. There is a little cake shop that Jill and I like to stop by and visit. Every time I go to Vegas I spend a good amount of time in this place. When I got the chance to stay here last May(2009) I was very excited. My friend Andrew got free tickets to the Pacquio VS Hatton boxing match and two rooms at the NY NY for free! That trip was so much fun, my brother Keven came down too, and we all had a great time. The room itself was fairly large, but the beds and amenities seemed sub par far the resort and its price class. The pool is probably the worst on the strip.

 9. Excalibur. I have a love hate relationship with this casino/hotel. I love the location, the theme, the casino, the restaurants, and I always park here when we go walking the strip. I do not like the rooms or the tiny pool though. The price here has come down in the past few years to make it a good choice, but the rooms are dingy and boring. But the good outweighs the bad here and I'll stay again.

 8. Circus Circus. The casino here makes you feel lost. The old folks flock here. Kids run ramped here as their parents take them to the free circus shows and for the midway games. The buffet is weak and forgettable. But surprisingly the rooms in this old casino are nice. They have an old motel like building in the back, but I have never stayed there. I have stayed in the standard and upgraded rooms here and have not been disappointed. They have been remodeling the rooms too and though I haven't stayed in the new ones, I look forward to it as they look really nice. The theme park here can be fun. The Steakhouse is excellent and it is where Jill and I had our first dinner as husband and wife.

 7. El Cortez. This place is located in old Las Vegas, just off Fremont Street. The Casino is small, but fun. It has the old Mafia feel too it. The main hotel is one of the oldest still standing in Vegas. They also have a tower that was built in the 70's. Jill and I stay in the tower rooms when we go. They are very large and clean. They have antique furniture and good views of Vegas. My brother stayed in the old portion and swears it was haunted and didn't sleep much. I love the old school charm of this place and want to stay again.

 6. Aria at City Center. This hotel is ridiculously nice. That said, the first time I stayed here I wasn't happy at all. I had friends with me and despite the fact I booked a room with 2 beds, they'd only give me a room with one bed. I know things happen, but the way I was talked to by the girl at the counter made me very upset. The room itself is ran by a tablet computer, which is cool when it works. Ours didn't at first. Since I was upset by all of this, plus the hassle of checking out, I wrote an email explaining my frustrations. They apologized and sent me an email offering me a free room and discounted rates for additional night. So why is the Aria still ranked so high? Because like I said, it's ridiculously nice! The bed was comfortable, the tablet ran rooms were awesome (after they fixed it), they had plenty of cool pools, the casino was fun, and the Viva Elvis show is AMAZING. Jill and I are staying here again tomorrow, and even though things didn't run very smooth the first time, I'm very excited to stay again!

 5. The Luxor. My favorite themed casino/hotel. The Egyptian motif is fun, and staying in the pyramid hotel is so fun. We stayed 20-something stories up and the view from inside is just amazing. I suggest that everyone stay in the pyramid once. The casino is great, the food is awesome as Fusha is one of my favorite restaurants. The show here are great. The Imax theater and arcade are fun. Nothing bad to say about this place at all. PS- Chris Angel... UPDATE - Since I first wrote my review of the Luxor, Jill and I stayed here again. After we booked a pyramid room, they told us at check in that they only had tower rooms, and that they would give us the "free" upgrade for their error. The upgrade, was anything but an upgrade. They Luxor doesn't have the best amenities or beds, so this room as just a standard hotel room. Being in the pyramid is really what makes this place fun. Also, Fusha is closed now and sits vacant....

 4. Mandalay Bay. This place is almost perfect. The rooms aren't large, but are big enough and are very comfortable. This resort is perfect for relaxing. The swimming pool area is covered in sand to make it feel like your staying on a beach. The casino is fun and pretty. There are many options for great dining, including The House of Blues, which is a favorite stop of Jill's. It's also connected by a little shopping plaza to The Luxor property. We've seen The Lion King stage production here, and it was amazing. It has since closed for the new Michael Jackson show. The only drawback for some is that it's at the very end of the strip and due to its very large size, it can be a long walk or drive from other properties. For me, that's not a problem and I enjoy any chance to spend at the Bay.

 3. Treasure Island. We always visit the casino when we are here. We have even seen Mystere here about 4 times. But until a couple weeks ago (in 2010), Jill and I had never stayed in the hotel. When we first got there I thought this place was going to be a nightmare. When we checked in there were about three employees checking in about sixty people in line. After the wait to check in, which was faster then expected, I was hit with a $20 a day resort fee that they tack on top of your room rate. I was SO MAD. But then as soon as Jill and I made it to the room, everything got better. We were 27 floors up, with a strip view. This view also gave us a perfect look at the Siren Pirate show they do 3 or 4 times a night. The fireworks they shoot off would pass by our floor to ceiling windows nightly. It was so cool. The bed in this hotel was probably the nicest bed I have slept in, in Vegas. It was so relaxing. The air conditioning unit was perfect. The walls were solid and the hotel was rather quiet. It was too cold to visit the pool, but everything else about this hotel was almost perfect. I would recommend this place to all, but warn of the resort charge!

 2. The Mirage. What a great place to stay. The rooms are very similar to TI (Treasure Island was originally suppose to be the 2nd tower of The Mirage resort). The bathrooms were nice, the beds were super comfortable, and the vibe was refreshing. This resort has everything I need and really there is no reason to leave if you're staying there. One of my favorite restaurants, BLT Burger, is located here. This place has awesome burgers and out of this world milkshakes (Twinkie or PB&J are my favorites). The sports book is large and Andrew and I spend many hours here relaxing on the leather couches watching some games. The casino is fun, but it seems like it takes your money faster than most. But the best thing about the Mirage has the be THE BEATLES! This place is the home of The Beatles Love show. It is by far the best show I have seen in Vegas. It also has a Beatles themed lounge, the casino plays Beatles music throughout, and there is a Beatles store where I grab 93% of all my t-shirts. This place is wonderful and I can't wait to return! With the recent room discounts they've had, there is no reason for you not to try it out!

 1. Trump International. This place is soooo nice. There is no casino here, just a top of the line hotel. Everything here is over the top fancy. The beds are so comfortable. The bathroom is as large as most Vegas hotel rooms. The mirror in the bathroom has a TV behind the glass. The tub is a huge jacuzzi. They give you slippers and robes. Plasma TVs here. Books to read. Amazing views. Excellent furniture. Everything is mind blowing. The only drawback is you have to pay for parking everyday. If you can afford to go, you should stay here. I've stayed here a few times bidding low for 5 star rooms on priceline. I've never payed more than $99 a night, which is a steal!

Big Changes

I decided a few months back that it was time for some changes in my life. Work had become something I really stopped enjoying, and a few people I worked with didn't alway seem to have my best interests in mind. Instead of joining the training to get myself promoted, I opted out. I started looking for a new job, something that I felt rewarded in doing, yet allowed me the chance to be a good dad to my girl. When I thought I had a job at "Local BYU Style Candy Place", I stepped down from my manager position at "National Grocery Store with Local Name" so I could be ready to take the job. Unfortunately, the job I thought was going to be mine, was offered to someone else. I'm sure that person fit the "BYU" persona a little better than I. So I went back to the grocery store. It was weird being just a clerk after being a manager for so long. Many things that I would normally fix were no longer mine to deal with. I thought I'd be happy about less responsibilities, but it was the opposite. Seeing things that need help, but not being able to do it, drove me nuts. But this store (not the same one I ran) had a few of my best friends there, so that made it better. After a few weeks I got in touch with a friend at "5th largest National Bank" and told her I wanted to work there. She pulled some strings and I got to meet the District Manager. I was offered a job for less money then my clerk position at the grocery store, and far less than my salary as the boss. Still, I knew inside it was a change I needed. So here I am, making far less money and learning a whole new trade. But the thing that really makes it all worth while is seeing my little Lu. I've had the chance to spend more time with her this Spring than at any other point in her life. We've bonded and she's become my best friend. Jill has been great and very supportive, even as the cash flow was reduced to a cash trickle. Without her support, I'd probably still be getting walked all over at the "National Grocery Store with Local Name". It's really a big change, and a scary one even. But I know inside, I made the right call. Once the ball gets rolling at the bank, I'm going to keep pushing so I'm back at the top. Mediocrity is not my style. So after 15 years of blood, sweat, and tears, I am moving on to bigger and better things. I'll miss all the friends I've made, I'll miss all the money left on the table, but I won't miss the inability to have some normalcy in my personal life. Being with Jill and Lucy isn't worth those green backs. Plus for those who really know me, you understand that playing politics is not my style. If i wanted to get ahead in life by being a yes man, I probably could, but my censor button doesn't always work and my opinions fall from my mouth with ease.

Cutting loose ties

So I've stepped away from here so I wouldn't say anything to get me into any trouble with certain people. I've kept quiet and hoped that things would work out for the best. But here I am, many months after promising not to say anything that may hurt feelings, and I still haven't had any contact with these people I care about. My daughter is 17 months old and still doesn't know them. I'm done caring. I'm done hoping for reconciliation. I just hope that you are happy in your life, because I know I am happy in mine. I don't think about you daily anymore, and I have enough people who look out for my family and I. I didn't think it possible, but life has been easier without you. You've moved on, and finally, years later, I have too.

Eazy Fasheezy

I'm pissed

I'm so pissed off at you right now.

Each year on April 7th I'm in a different mood. The first few years were filled with sadness and depression. Since then some have had happiness as I thought of all the good times. Some years I feel at peace. Last year it actually only grabbed my attention with a quick thought that was soon erased by the cute sounds of a 3 month old. But this year I am mad.

I am pissed that the one person with as much stupid and random NBA knowledge as me isn't here to watch his OKC Thunder (AKA Seattle Sonics) win the West. I'm pissed that I don't have my Big Man to pass the ball to on the post. I'm pissed that my knowledge of crappy and sappy hip-hop artists has dropped off since 2003. I'm pissed that I play video games alone. I'm pissed that I alone am the worst rapper from the group EP. I'm pissed you missed the Giants winning TWO Super Bowls. I'm pissed I turned 30 without you turning 30 too. I'm pissed that you missed my wedding. I'm pissed you never met Lucy. I'm pissed that you didn't let me know how you really felt. Things DO get better. I'm pissed you didn't let tomorrow come to find that out yourself.

Grant, I'm pissed off so bad right now, but I'm only mad because I love you so much. You'll always be in my heart old friend.

Time away

So my last blog was a quick short one. I said that I'd have a year retrospective blog about Lucy. I spend a good long time on it, and thought it was pretty good. I then tried to add pictures to it, and something went wrong. It just froze. When I reloaded it, all my words, thoughts, and charming stories were gone. It took all of my willpower to not throw my Mac through the wall. Maybe I'll rewrite it, maybe not. In any event, I wasn't in any mood to play on blogger for a bit.

So here I write, but who knows for how long? Lucy is all over the place and sitting down to write has been increasingly more difficult. Plus, I'm trying to watch what I write. I'm still hoping for reconciliation with some, and I don't want this blog to be a reason why things stay sour. Plus work has been extremely stressful for me during the past six months. My job duties have evolved and my new manager has a role for me that my last manager didn't. I'm trying to adapt and not go crazy.

Perhaps my mood will change and I'll write about my upcoming trip to Las Vegas. Maybe I'll be on to talk about all the new things Lu is doing. But for now, I feel like just stepping back for a bit and enjoying the ride.

See you all sometime, just not sure when.

Matt

Lucy Joy

Lucy's first picture with her pops!

Can't believe it has been ONE year!

Retrospective blog to come soon ;)