What happens in Vegas..ends up on my blog.

What a whirlwind the past week has been! I love the West, I thought Arizona was great (still do!) but Nevada was just as amazing too. I love the heat and so my allergies, I didn't sniffle or hardly anything when I was out there. It was so great...to feel "normal" for once.

The hotel we stayed at was amazing too, when you walked into the lobby they had a small pond with koi fish and swans! Their names were Priscilla and Elvis, too funny. We were also close to the strip but still far enough from the craziness; the traffic reminded of New York City, the drivers were pretty insane but it wasn't that bad but still crazy! My dad had a few choice words for them sometimes when we were driving though, lol. I loved the city, the casinos themes were pretty cool and when I say they went all out, they went all out. My favorite Casinos were the Venetian, Treasure Island and Luxor (which I didn't to go into but was still able to take pictures.) The Venetian was insane! Inside the ceiling had clouds and it was like walking outside in Italy and they even had a river running through the "mini" city with gondolas!

We even saw a couple get married on one of the arches as gondola's went under it which was pretty cool, some of the couple's family were there and a crowd surrounded the area clapping and cheering. It made me smile (and made me even consider getting married there if wedding planning becomes too much for me! lol!).

While my dad went to work for a few hours, I laid out by the pool which was usually empty when I went out to visit. The pool was incredible, probably the most amazing pool I have ever seen. It had two hot tubs shaded under Palm Trees, while the pool had a small waterfall you could lay under or jump into. I know it may sound crazy, but I preferred the hot tub. It was about 106-108 degrees every day, but I didn't mind the heat! I would lay in the hot tub for a bit then get out, listen to music or read. It was great! I read the first Hunger Games book at the pool and honestly I wasn't that impressed. The world it was set in was very interesting, but besides that..really didn't enjoy it that much...kids killing kids. Okay? lol. I might read it again, who knows maybe I'll like it better. Anyway, I don't know what it is about getaways and vacations but they really make you think about things.

While I stayed at the pool for those few hours every day I thought what was going in my life, what I had did in the past few months, the past year, what I've done since I graduated. It was nice reflecting on myself and even my future, but it also made me a little bit disappointed in what I haven't done and it made me want to focus on more things that I want to do..while I can still do them.

More than ever though, being in Vegas made me miss Eric more than usual. Couples were everywhereg and even though most of the time I ignore them and look the other way, I couldn't do that in Sin City...they were literally everywhere. And it made me sad that my marine wasn't there with me.

I really hope I can go back with Eric someday and enjoy/explore Vegas more. It was a wonderful experience and I know for a fact I belong in the West!

Now off to the beach Tuesday!

Baseball.

Things are starting to get busy. After 7 days off from Baseball I'm starting to umpire a lot again, I had a game yesterday, today, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Honestly, who knows if I'll get any more games after that because June 25-28th I am going to Las Vegas with my Dad. Once we get back to Ohio we are leaving for the beach! I am soooooo excited to go back to Myrtle Beach, so, so excited!

I miss the Beach and I miss the Condo we stay at too. I really do love that place, hardly any people, quiet and only a small walk from to the Beach. I am so excited to go back. 

I love umpiring, this is my 3rd year umpiring and considering I played Baseball (with guys) till I was 13 and played softball till I was 19..I am pretty sure I know what I'm doing. I've read the rules over and over and I know how the game like the back of my hand. This year, I've really only worked with the 11 and 12 year olds and sometimes the 13-14 year olds. The 11 and 12 boys are my absolute favorite! I've known most of those boys because when I started umpiring they were in the lower leagues, so the past 3 years I've gotten to know these boys pretty well and watched them grow as ball players. Most of the time, the games are fun! The boys play hard and at that level (11 and up!) they pretty much know what they are doing (most of the time, haha!) so the games go well. Sometimes a coach complains and parents chime in, but so far this year...I haven't had any real problems.

However, with both Stow and Wadsworth teams the head coaches refused to shake my hand at the before the game coaches meeting and ran their mouths throughout both games complaining that I was a girl, said that I didn't know what I was doing because I was female.

Never, ever in my life...have I been discriminated so much because of my gender. It has really opened my eyes to being discriminated against. I can't even imagine if there are so many people who are against me umpiring because I am female, how hard is for Asian, Latin, Black, Hispanic, LBGT community and other nationalities to survive in this country? No wonder there are so many problems in this country and we can't get anything done in Washington! Sheesh!

Last night, when I umpired a 9-10 year old game...it was absolute chaos. The game hadn't even went on for 5 minutes before the parents and coaches were screaming. Usually when someone yells at me or disagrees with a call I make, I ignore them. I look the other way and act as if they aren't even there, because frankly..I don't care. I know I made the right call, if someone is out I will call them out and if someone is safe I'll call them safe. Last night was probably the most infuriating game I had to umpire. One, because the coaches and parents who screamed, yelled, tried to start a fist fight on the field and told my partner to go die (because he's elderly but not that elderly!) were setting horrible examples for their kids. Two, at that age they are learning HOW to play the game; yes, its the playoffs and both teams want to win, I understand that..I've been there. But acting like animals and setting bad examples for the kids isn't going to help any of that.

Today and most of next week, I am with the same age group and the same field. From today on, I am telling both teams..if anyone says a word to me or yells or screams or becomes violent...I am throwing them out of the game and if things become worse..I am calling the police.

I am not putting up with anymore crap from sexist, rude, idiotic people..who know nothing about the game of Baseball. I don't get paid enough to put up with this psycho-ness. I love the kids and I love the game and that is why I umpire.

And I am not going to let any hateful people stop me from doing what I love.

Thankful.

I just want to take a moment and just say how thankful I am for certain people in my life, thankful for the places I've been able to go to and for experiences (both good and bad) I've been able to have. Thankful that I have a roof over my head, food in my stomach...thankful that all my animals are well and healthy.

I am thankful that my Grammy is starting to walk again (slowly!) after hip replacement surgery a few months back. I am thankful that I am umpiring again, even though it has its ups and downs...I love my boys and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. I am thankful that I have such amazing parents, my mom works so hard and puts everyone around her first before herself. She is amazing. My father and I don't always get along, but I know he'll always be my dad and  throughout it all he'll be there for me, no matter what.

Lastly, I am thankful for the man I have by my side. I am so blessed to have such an amazing, caring, supportive person to share the rest of my life with.

Thank you God for all of this and so much more, I am so thankful and happy.