Good afternoon everyone, how are you?
Well this past week has been quite the week, let me tell you. I have a lot to cover and not a lot of space in which to cover it, so let’s just jump right into it all.
First, going chronologically, my professional Twitter account has been verified! That means next to Erika Siebring [@ErikaNews2] there is the almighty blue check mark! It’s a small thing but it actually makes me feel a little giddy, just knowing that I’m “official” on Twitter 🙂
In fact, also on Twitter — on Wednesday during the morning show’s Must See Video, we looked at an ice creamery in Pennsylvania that makes sauerkraut ice cream (as a way of celebrating the new year with the traditional German food). Well, my meteorologist had some strong opinions about that — he wasn’t too keen on the idea of trying it. Honestly we had a really good laugh about it both on and off air.
But the major story I want to get to is the first time I’ve ever used Paid Time Off: my family took a trip to Las Vegas! Now, I’ve been to Vegas before for the BEA/NAB Journalism Convention(s) last April and we stayed at the Paris hotel (and at the Excalibur for one night); it was beautiful and exciting but I did not do well at the whole gambling thing!
Well this time around I got off work as normal, flew back home one day early and had dinner with my family, and left the following day (Thursday). That in itself was actually funny: we had to leave for the airport around 4 a.m.. But I’m typically already awake at that time. So I’m all up and at ’em and ready to go while the rest of family was feeling pretty tired.
But it was a nice flight, beautiful weather when we came in; we stayed at the Excalibur which is medieval-themed; we went for breakfast/brunch (chicken & waffles for me, with a mimosa). Now altogether I was there for three full days — and a lot happened in that time — so I’ll do my best to sum it all up
~ We spent most of the time walking up and down the strip, checking out each major hotel’s casino, playing at least one round of virtual Blackjack. This included the Luxor, Mandalay Bay, New York-New York, Waldorf Astoria, The Bellagio, Planet Holywood, Paris and the Flamingo.
~ Speaking of which I won about $85 from gambling, including $50 from a slot machine I won on my last 2 credits the first day
~ We saw the David Copperfield magic show Thursday night (and then went to bed after being awake for 20+ hours), The Cirque du Soleil “O” show, and the “Wow” show at the Rio
~ We checked out the lights on Fremont Street and the top of the Stratosphere
~ We ate so much food: the chicken & waffles; the Baguette Burger (Black Angus beef, melted brie cheese, Arugula salad, truffle mayo on a french baguette) from the Mandalay Bay Burger Bar; chips & guac and fried pickles with a watermelon cocktail from The Black Tap at The Venetian; a sirloin steak and lemondrop martini on Fremont Street
It was a lot — it was so much fun and a wonderful vacation, but it was a lot. I think Vegas is always a lot just because of the energy and environment. So I am going to spent today relaxing!
Hopefully this week will offer some calm down time!