Beats, Rhymes, and Life

Ardon and I and a couple of his friends went to the Metro today to watch Beats, Rhymes, and Life: A Tribe Called Quest Documentary. Initially, when Ardon extended the invitation to me, I really didn't know if I should go. I've heard of the group, but I don't listen to them. If I do, it's not on purpose. I maybe have heard their popular stuff on the radio, but I don't own any albums, I didn't know their names, I wouldn't go to watch a show, I just wasn't a fan. Not that I didn't like their music. I just didn't know much about them.

The movie turned me into a fan. Director Michael Rapaport does an amazing job of documenting the group's musical and personal journeys. It gave me good, profound insight into their music, their evolution, and them as people. Whether you're a fan or not, this is definitely worth seeing.

Vegas Day 3 of 3

We had to get up at 3am to be out of our room at 4 to check out and make it to the airport. Mario's flight was at 6:15 and mine was at 7. Our Vegas trip started and ended in the blink of an eye. Celine Dion with my best friend was a trip to remember.

Treasure Island, Las Vegas
July 20, 2010

Treasure Island, Las Vegas
July 20, 2011

Vegas Day 2 of 3

Because we had such a short stay, we had to squeeze tons of fun into one day. Sun, swimming, shopping, dim sum, and CELINE!

Since we're "old," and didn't go out the night before, we were able to wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7:30am just in time to be at the pool by its 8am opening. On our way to the pool we stopped to get coffee for a little boost like true Seattlites.


We laid out in the 108 degree heat and dipped in the pool for about 4 hours.


Mario decided to start his fun a little early. There's nothing better than a nice, cold margarita poolside at 10:30am.


By about 12:30, we went inside and got ready for the day. First stop: Fashion Show Mall to hit up the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Yes, I gave in. It was actually really great. I knew what I wanted to get, and there were NO CROWDS! Quick and painless shopping!


Dida picked us up at Nordstrom and took us to dim sum where we met up with Auntie Babes too. A Vegas trip is never complete without seeing Dida.


After dim sum Dida dropped us off again at our hotel, where we took a quick nap before hitting the town to see our girl Celine! The show was at 7:30. We arrived at Caesar's Palace at about 6:45. Before going into the Colosseum, we stopped at the Celine Dion store where Mario bought a mug and I bought a T-shirt (that Ardon totally makes fun of me for). We knew we had to get something. This was a BIG night for us!


7:30 rolled around, and we were sitting at the edge of our seats. The curtains went up and Celine started singing, and we were in heaven! Call me crazy, but I cried for about the first 20 minutes of the show. I don't know why! I wasn't alone in tears, though, because the two middle-aged Southern women sitting next to me were crying too! We loved every second of it. The show was spectacular to say the least. We highly recommend it!

After the show we were hungry and exhausted. Our minds were telling us to go out and have fun, but our bodies were telling us otherwise. We went across the way to Serendipity 3, but saw that there was a lengthy wait, so we ended up going back to the hotel where we ordered room service instead.


By midnight we were down and out... because we had to wake up three hours later...

Vegas Day 1 of 3

Operation: CELINE DION

Last June 2010, Mario and I saw that Celine Dion was back in town. To say we were ecstatic would be an understatement. He had me at "Celine Dion." Without hesitation, we instantly bought tickets. We were beside ourselves knowing that in just a couple of weeks we were going to see the show of a lifetime. As we started to pack our bags, we had a conversation that sounded like this... aaaaand Playback!

Mario: Kitty... Kitty... GUESS WHAT?! (Eyes bulging as he's looking at his calendar)
Me: What?...
Mario: We booked our ticket for July 20th, two-thousand ELEVEN!
Me: Shut the f**k up...

aaaand Scene! Yeah, apparently, we didn't do our research and bought our tickets FOR THE WRONG YEAR. In typical Mario and Cat fashion we made the most of the situation. We finished packing our bags, hopped in Mario's Honda Civic, and road tripped it down to Las Vegas anyway.

So here we are a year later. We're back and, at long last, we are going to see Celine Dion! Here are the adventures so far. Vegas, Take 2, aaaand Action!

Arrived in Vegas at 5:45pm. Temperature 106 degrees. I waited for about an hour for Mario to arrive. He flew in from Toronto at 6:50pm.


We cabbed it to the hotel together, and on the way witnessed a filming of "Cops" or something.


Finally got to our hotel, Treasure Island. We scored a sweet deal when we reserved. We got 2 free buffet tickets, 2 free lunch meals, free WiFi, and free access to the amenities.


After hours of traveling, we freshened up and took our free tickets and big appetites downstairs to the buffet!


Now, I don't know if it's food coma or just pure exhaustion, but it's almost midnight and I'm blogging... in Vegas. Need I say more? As Mario so brilliantly asked, "When did we become old?" To end a long day, shower and sleep.

C'mon Sun!

We're in mid-July and THIS is what we're working with? We hit the 80s two weeks ago, and haven't gotten much warmer than that, and now we're back in the 60s. Did we peak too early (or in my opinion WAY too early)? I want my summer!

I can remember 2 summers ago when Seattle experienced a major heat wave and we had 90-100 degree weather for a good two or three weeks. Last summer was another hot one. That's what I love about Seattle--we get all 4 seasons. This year... not so much.

Oh, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me!

To 'Sale' or Not to 'Sale'

That is the question. It's the sale that every woman knows about, the sale that many women save up for. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is undoubtedly one of the biggest sales of the year, especially here in downtown Seattle where it all started. All the hottest trends for the Fall are debuted at a less than original price, and everyone wants a piece of it. The store even hires extra staff just for the sale itself. Opening day is like letting the female shopper floodgates open.

I, myself, am guilty of being one of them. Don't get me wrong. I didn't stand at the doors before opening hours with my hands tapping on the glass like many shoppers do. I'd wait a day or two or three before hitting the trenches--when the crowd has gone from chaotic to ridiculously crowded. You see, over the years I've become much more strategic about it. When I was younger, I'd just go on day one of the sale and spend hours in the mayhem and come home exhausted. Gradually, the strategy has become to evaluate my wardrobe and see what I "need" before arriving at the sale so that I have a goal, rather than aimlessly wandering amidst insanity. I get what I want and go, with minimal exposure to the chaos of all the crazy shoppers. Even then a 3-item shopping list can last at least 2 hours. These days, I don't even want to be around the manic shoppers. I'm sure I can score some great deals, but the crowd... Just the thought of it makes me want to take a nap. Then again, I am on summer break and I am not pressed for time. However, it does become quite brutal waiting and waiting and waiting for a dressing room, getting a shoe size, cashing out, etc. And it's not just the crowd that is my big con, but there's also this: year after year, I end up buying some items that are not even at sale price. So why even go?

Well, you go because you can get a really good deal on really nice things! It's that simple. Nordstrom is known for its quality. Quality merchandise and quality customer service, and 999 times out of 1,000 they will deliver. You also go to get a good look on what's going to be big in the fall, and you get it at a reasonable price. On top of that, they're one of the only stores that carry my tiny shoe size. We all know that's a BIG pro.

So... do I go?

Well, I guess the true question is: What's more valuable? My time or money?

Park Hoppin'

Lucky me, I'm on summer break and we FINALLY have hot summer weather. With the sun out, I don't want to miss out on a single ray. Because we all know that in Seattle, it'll go away in a jiffy and for a long long time, so I gotta soak it up now. It has been so beautiful around the city, and it made me realize that I live in prime location to enjoy it all. All I have to do is, grab my sunglasses, Kindle, iPod, put on my flip flops and start walking. I'm so lucky to be within walking distance to a number of awesome places where I can bask the wonderful Seattle sun. Here are a couple of my faves. You bet I'll be walking all over this town to find more great places.

Lake Union Park, 4 blocks away from home.

Olympic Sculpture Park, Broad and Western

International Fountain, Seattle Center

Westlake Park, Westlake Center