Dance and Live

I barely remember when when I first met Niki. I think it was on the dance floor at a club. In fact I am almost positive we were out on the dance floor doing the kid and play or better yet the the roger rabbit. Yeah we had moves people only wished they had...so we thought. Niki and I were friends through friends. She always happened to be at the same place I was. This is how we created our friendship.

In early 2008 I heard a disturbing rumor about Niki. I thought to myself no way not Niki, she is so young and full of life. The rumors became a reality when Niki came over to one of our famous BBQ's we had. You know the typical BBQ by the pool lots of beer and margaritas and lets not forget the 30 girls in bikinis. Our neighbors loved us! Niki started talking to me and eventually started talking about the big rumor. While she was explaining what has taken place everything became cloudy and empty once I heard the words Breast Cancer.

Niki was a 23 year old women who was facing the fact that time here on earth was going to be short lived. See we all thought she went home to visit these past few months when in fact she went home to battle chemo. She lost the battle and was told she only had a few more months to live. At some point she decided to come back to Vegas where her friends were. She needed to live these next few months.

After she explained her fight against Breast Cancer she looked at me and said "I didn't want anyone to know in fear of being treated different." My response was, "Niki your black...we always look at you different." After that comment we never brought up her battle of cancer again. Instead we went out, we dance and we lived.

As I mentioned Niki and I were friends of friends. We were not best friends who talked everyday. Having to face a battle like Breast Cancer at the age of 23 is something I could never bare. I could say she lost her battle to cancer in January of 2009 but that doesn't suit Niki. Although she is gone I don't feel like she lost a battle but yet she is experiencing another journey. A journey we will experience someday.

Simplicity in Friends

Living in Vegas we tend to forget what the word simplicity means. My friends and I sat around the bar at Three Angry Wives drinking our beers listening to my sister Shaila's stories about Costa Rica. Shaila's stories tend to lean toward fantasy land rather than reality. This makes her stories all the more interesting. As I mentioned before in a previous blog Shaila and I couldn't be more different from each other.

While in Costa Rica she attempted to surf and managed to get 5 stitches while swimming or should I say floating in a non swimming zone. Of coarse Shaila's story started off, "while I was surfing" but in reality she could barely paddle with the waves pushing her toward the sandy beaches. When Shaila broke through the wave she was sliced by a friends surf board. She felt the pain but all of her friends informed her it was just a scratch.

At this point everyone gathered their things and thought she should get a professional opinion. In reality when they looked at her head they noticed a huge gash that would definitely need stitches. Instead of getting Shaila worked up they convinced her it was a small scratch. Although while Shaila was walking the 3 miles to the hospital she felt quizzie, faint and was in pain while blood was gushing across her forehead. I mean come on it's just a scratch right?

"You need 5 stitches," the doctor explained to Shaila. Shaila said...no it is just a scratch. In disbelief were her friends wrong or did they avoid worrying little Shaila while in Costa Rica. Shaila got stitched up and drank a lot more cold Costa Rica beer and stayed clear of that surf board for the remaining of the trip.

What does this little story have to do with simplicity? Living in Vegas it is hard to find little bars down the street where you can enjoy your friends stories. We tend to grab our keys instead of walking to the bar, store or anywhere. We decided to do the walk and enjoyed the beer the stories and the walk of Bocca Park and our neighborhood. As we walked home we couldn't help but remember when we were young and had to be home before the street lights. We would race home from playing all day. To me this night means simplicity. We were kids racing home from a good day of play time.

Where does the time go? We tend to forget to take a little time for ourselves. We consume ourselves with work, school and people we love. We always remember to groom our dogs or detail are vehicles so they look and feel good. What about polishing up ones self.

It seems hard to put energy towards ones self. This should be a requirement. This is just a thought in my mind. Just wanted to mention it here. Think about the times in your life when you were most happy. What were you doing? Where you putting yourself first? I bet so. Food for thought.

ReeRee

Sisiter Overseas

For those who don't know me I come in a package. I have a twin sister who couldn't be so similar but then so opposite. This year we hit our dirty 30. My twin sister and I are very rarely apart from each other. One of her goals in her third decade of life is to travel. She started this year off focused toward her goals.

She arrived in Costa Rica on January 7, 2009. The following day San Jose had a 6.2 magnitude earthquake. I was unaware of the earthquake since I barley watch the news anymore. I arrived at work the following morning and greeted Kri and she nonchalantly mentioned to me, "Hey did you hear about the earthquake in Costa Rica" like it was no big deal.

My heart dropped and I could not remember the last thing I mentioned to my sister. What were their plans, did they have a plan? Is she ok and why hasnt she called me? Two days went by and I realized I hadn't checked my myspace profile in a few days. I had a few new comments and scrolled down and noticed a post from my sister. Thank God, she was already somewhere else when the earthquake hit.

Now here is where we are complete opposites. She felt it would be better not to worry friends and family and made the decision to not contact anyone. Now I dont have the best common sense but usually if you want people to know you were ok you would make contact with them. Not my sis, no contact is better contact. As I read on I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that this is truely how she is. So laid back so calm. It must be that quarter hawaiian blood she had running through her veins.

I do miss my sister. I am thankful that she is in my life. I think someone upstairs knew that we would do so much better together than apart. I am excited for her safe return home.

Las Vegas hosts many conventions throughout the year. Today I had the privilege to attend Affiliate Summit Las Vegas for the second year in a row. Last year I only went for a day and it was mainly a social event. This year we have a booth and plan on networking and getting the desired face time with our current clients.

I would assume that conventions are a tool in which our company can obtain possible new ways of revenue and new contacts. But we have to realize we live in Las Vegas. I couldn't help overhearing about all the after parties and the late nights already taking place. I am very interested to see how the convention is going to turn out for me, being a rookie and all.

As I walked around the "meet market" with my project manger and operational manager I soaked in how they spoke to other attendees. I was fascinated on how my project manager was so witty and confident. She had this swagger that could not be resisted by male and females.

I will post another blog regarding the outcome of my Affiliate Summit experience. I hope to gain a better client relationship with my current clients and establish new clients.

Sharee Macy

Fear of Blogging

Stepping out of my comfort zone and writing a blog is not a simple task for me. This will be my first blog entry I have ever composed. Sounding like an idiot is something everyone fears I guess. I do this best in my writing. This is the reason why I am challenging myself and stepping outside my comfort zone. 2009 is going to be a year where I create a healthy mind and start to focuss on little goals that will benefit me in the long run. Fear or no fear this is going to be a great adventure!

ReeRee