I'm back! Vegas was big fun, sort of. I think all of our money woes made us much more conservative about gambling, so we didn't really do much of it, opting instead for browsing at the Forum shops and looking at the things they had to offer there. Phoenix was fabulous, very dry and not so good for our skin, but we had a great time. Friday morning we got up, intending to go horseback riding with our friend, but they didn't call till they were walking out the door so clearly, we weren't going to get our butts in gear to go with them. Instead we laid around our fine hotel room watching a made for TV movie that was thoughtfully playing without (sans) commercials on HBO, then started walking to the Waffle House (casa de Waffle) for a fine breakfast. On the way, we saw a nice man handing out $5 sunglasses so I bought the most disco pair he had. Our breakfast was great then we headed across the street to the mall for more browsing where I scored a good deal on some shoes. Our other friend was running late so decided to see a movie, something we have no time to do at home.

I had such a good day, we decided it was my birthday that day. We had a sort of uncomfortable dinner that night (there was some rescue-related drama going on that clouded the evening) and headed to the dog park. There, we saw Elliemama, our Rainie Roo's mother, as well as her alleged father Ralph, who was beaten in the puppy mill and is very very shy. He's a sweet boy who eventually let me talk to him.

Yesterday was actually my birthday but it was clouded by great nervousness about my Red division tryout (placement session) for the women's league. We got to the rink over an hour early and I was able to skate a bit during the public session, which was clogged with a kid's birthday party attendees, one of whom shouted "EEEEK! A hockey player!" each time I went by her. My brother, Lisa, cousin Ann, her son Thomas with special guest, her other son Jim, who is on a 2 day leave from his duties in Zimbabwe and headed back overseas today, Andrea, my goalie Gerald and his wife Heather, all came out to cheer for me. Thanks to their enthusiasm, the judges did not miss the two goals I had.

Afterwards, one of the judges told me I looked good out there and that they were amazed by my fan club. I was too.

We all went out for dinner, where I was rendered speechless and teary-eyed by my brother's gift. I was finishing my dinner, minding my own business, when I see this thing in front of my face. It was the waiter, holding an Easton Synergy hockey stick -- the most revolutionary thing to happen to hockey sticks in years and something I'd drooled over for months, touching it every time I see one in a store, talking endlessly about how cool they are and how I had no real reason to have one. When I realized what it was, I was absolutely speechless and started to cry. It chokes me up even now.

It was a great birthday, thanks to all of my posse for being there last night to cheer me on. I'm hoping that a Red division jersey will be a belated birthday gift that comes toward the middle of next week. I'll wear it proudly and use my most excellent Synergy stick when I play.