Home: Las Vegas

Home: Las Vegas. It hits me when the sky gives way from black to a sea of glittering, golden lights. Some 20,000 feet below me is the Mojave Desert, which is slowly giving way to the Las Vegas Valley. Tears well up in my eyes, and there is no containing them. I’ve left my worldContinue reading “Home: Las Vegas”

Daily Wanderlust: the vibrant Valley of Fire

Located outside of Las Vegas, the Valley of Fire is a site to behold. With enormous outcroppings of orange-hued rock set against lime green cacti and bright blue sky, the beauty of the southwest desert comes alive here. It is one of my favorite spots to explore and offers gorgeous drives and stunning hikes aroundContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: the vibrant Valley of Fire”

Daily Wanderlust: The other side of Las Vegas

From 2005 until 2012, I lived mostly in a place that is known for gambling, amazing food and late, late nights resulting in questioning the activities the following morning. Whenever people ask me about what it was like to live in Las Vegas, I always tell them there is much more to the desert townContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: The other side of Las Vegas”

The daughter of Las Vegas: an interview with Bugsy Siegel’s daughter, Millicent

//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js // <![CDATA[ (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); // ]]> It was about 66 years ago when Millicent Siegel’s father, Ben “Bugsy” Siegel wrote a letter to his wife addressing his oldest daughter’s smoking habits.“I don’t like the idea of smoking at all, I would point out to her that it is not ladylike atContinue reading “The daughter of Las Vegas: an interview with Bugsy Siegel’s daughter, Millicent”

Daily Wanderlust: The Las Vegas Skyline at Night

Las Vegas … just thinking about my old home makes me nostalgic for the bright blue sky … the dusty desert … the palm trees. By day, Las Vegas is colorful, thanks to nature. But, by night, its an entirely different story. When the sun sinks behind Mt. Charleston, the lights come on. Every hotel’sContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: The Las Vegas Skyline at Night”

Escape of the Week: America via iPhoneography

If there is one thing I did to an excess while driving cross-country, it was taking photos. Between my new camera and my iPhone, I logged thousands of photos. Because the iPhone was easy to tote around, there were so many instances when I simply pulled it our from my purse (or from the armContinue reading “Escape of the Week: America via iPhoneography”

On the open road …

It’s dark, but above me I can hear the pitter patter of little feet on the floor. Little voices delighting in the morning. I roll over. It’s too early. I’m too tired. But, I’m awake. Awake. In Denver. Starting Day Four of my Life After Las Vegas. Laying in bed at my aunt and uncle’sContinue reading “On the open road …”

Exploring America

So, what does one do after making the decision to leave America and become an expat? Plan an epic, massive, awesome road trip. That’s right. My time as a Las Vegan is coming to a bittersweet end in a mere few days (the movers come Monday, June 11). Then, I’m off on a cross-country roadContinue reading “Exploring America”

The first sign

The blinking red of my Blackberry alerting me to a new e-mail catches my attention as I sit on my couch, only a few days after returning from Red Mountain Resort. I’m still happy. Still blissfully happy. I pull up the e-mail on my phone and scan it quickly. Holy. Shit. It’s from Elephant NatureContinue reading “The first sign”

The career cross-road

When it came time for my one-year anniversary with my company this past winter, I went in, ready to ask for a raise and full-time status. Despite the fact that, only a few months earlier, when I was suffering from horrific jet lag, my bosses informed me I would no longer be able to takeContinue reading “The career cross-road”