Snickers Ice Cream Pie from Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ

I met up with Sam on Thursday night for happy hour at Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que in The District at Green Valley Ranch.  It was my first time there, so Sam and I ordered a bunch of appetizers off the happy-hour menu.  We had the onion straws, Irish nachos, BBQ pork and beef brisket sliders, fried pickles, fried green tomatoes, BBQ beef tips, and hot links.  Needless to say, the food at Lucille's is amazing!  And to wash all that food down, I had a Long Island and a Joe's Hurricane.  Finally, we ended the night with a Snickers Ice Cream Pie, which was ridiculously delicious!!!  I definitely recommend heading out to Lucille's for its famous barbeque and great ambiance.

It was great seeing Sam again.  It's been a long while since the last time we hung out, so we had a lot to catch up on.  Although she gripes about having to read Faulkner for class, I know she's loving every minute of being back in school.  I'm happy that she's happy with her life and where it's headed.  Now if only I could figure out where I'm headed in life...

Sigh.

Anyway, I attended The L Group discussion for the second time last night.  This time around, however, there were two new people in attendance, and the discussion revolved around political and social issues affecting the world and, more specifically, the LGBT community.  The discussion was quite interesting, and I'm simply relieved that we all somewhat shared the same opinion on the issues.  LoL  It's never a good thing to talk about politics because things could get heated, but last night's discussion was pretty tame.  I quite enjoyed the discussion immensely.  I will definitely continue to participate in The L Group discussions.

On to good news!  I made a new friend through The L Group.  LoL  I swear, I'm not a dork even though my blog entries prove otherwise.  Anyway, as I was saying, I made a new friend last night.  Her name is Ota, and she's a musician/performer who recently moved here from San Jose, CA.  She's also a "stud looking for a femme" (her description, not mine lol).  She's really nice.  I hope to get to know her better and see her perform someday.  Yay!  I'm so proud of myself for getting out there and meeting new people.  I forgot how fun socializing could be!

Be bold and have fun!

Marriage Equality

New York legalizes gay marriage!  ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!

Ode to Good Friends

Last night, my friends and I gathered at Rey and JC's new home over good food, strong drinks, and tons of fun and laughter.  Their home is quite beautiful, and I wish Rey and JC nothing but the best.  They're a cute couple, and I hope I'll be able to find a love as strong and true as theirs someday.  But for now, I'm enjoying the single life.  =)

JC's Kahlua cheesecake.  YUM!

 Here's to good friends who make life much easier to bear!

The Best Pancakes Ever

A friend and I rushed to Babycakes Cafe in Summerlin this morning to beat the line that we were told would greet us there.  Unfortunately, we were met by that infamous line and a 45-minute wait.  We couldn't wait any longer to taste the delicious local Hawaiian food with an American twist we heard about through word of mouth, so we decided to get our food to go.  The 45-minute wait turned into a 15-minute wait.  Yay!  If you haven't been to Babycakes Cafe, you are missing out on the best pancakes ever!  The red velvet pancakes are absolutely amazing!  And the food is onolicious!

Red Velvet Pancakes from Babycakes Cafe in Summerlin.

Kalua Pig Benedict from Babycakes Cafe in Summerlin.

Adobo Fried Rice Omelette from Babycakes Cafe in Summerlin.

Nothing beats a hearty breakfast to start off a wonderful day!

All That Jazz

Karen Jones at E-String Grill & Poker Bar in Henderson.

Hung out with a couple of women I met through The L Group and their friends at E-String Grill & Poker Bar in Henderson. I met a lot of new faces, and I hope to continue being a "social butterfly" as JCM put it. We had dinner and drinks while enjoying the beautiful voice of Jazz singer Karen Jones and her awesome band. I had a wonderful time! I'm so proud of myself!

Last Night...

Last night, I swallowed my fear and insecurity and attended The L Group Discussion Night at The Center (LGBT).  The meeting was interesting and insightful and it allowed me to venture out of my comfort zone and meet new people.  I've always wanted to attend a meeting, but some lame excuse or another prevented me from doing so.  In all honesty, my incessant fear and insecurity about everything new, unfamiliar, and outside of my comfort zone prevented me from participating in a lot of things in life.  It disgusts me that I've let myself miss out on so many things because I was afraid or insecure.  But I've finally come to accept that I can't control the unknown and can never be perfect, so rather than fighting change and living in fear, I am determined to embrace change and live.  God, I just want to live.  After the break up and losing Jocelyn to an untimely death, I've finally opened my eyes to the realities of the world and the fleeting nature of life.  Life is short and can be difficult at times.  But you can choose to wallow in self-pity and remain stuck in your situation or you can can view your situation in a different light and make the most of what you have at the moment.  I so sick of being afraid and insecure.  I don't want to live like that anymore.  I want to be free and alive.  I want to fly...

On that note, I plan to participate more in community events and continue to explore all that Las Vegas has to offer.  I also hope to learn more about the world and subjects that interest me.  And I will focus on me and embrace this time alone.  It's about time I take care of myself and my needs.

Changes

On the way to Rainbow Gardens/Lava Butte.

Road from Las Vegas to Rainbow Gardens/Lava Butte.

Las Vegas far off in the distance.

Random rock formation on the way to Rainbow Gardens/Lava Butte.

Lava Butte a.k.a. The Armadillo

Rainbow Gardens

Frenchman Mountain and the Great Unconformity Interpretive Site

View of The Strip from Frenchman Mountain.

My morning was off to a great start with a little adventure on the dirt roads out of Las Vegas to Rainbow Gardens/Lava Butte with my friend Sherri, her son Donny, and their dog Ginger.  Rainbow Gardens offers a spectacular desert landscape accented by different colored sands like the vibrant colors of a rainbow.  The dirt road leading to Rainbow Gardens was a bit rough and quite daunting at times, but we made it there and back in one piece.  We then made our way to Frenchman Mountain and the Great Unconformity Interpretive Site, which I have yet to research and soak in, but I know it has something to do with sedimentary formations and changes to the existing landscape.

I had a wonderful time discovering more of what Las Vegas has to offer.  I'm too harsh on this city at times as it was never my first choice of where to live.  But I've come to accept that I'm here for the time being, and I'm doing everything in my power to embrace all that this city with its arid landscape and neon lights has to offer.  Opening my eyes to the world and making the best of my surroundings/situation has done wonders for me these past few weeks since I've changed my outlook on life.  It's all about perception and the choices you make.  Las Vegas isn't half as bad as I originally thought, offering surprises of its own, and the world isn't as daunting as I originally perceived as I embrace life for all its worth, good and bad.

Embrace changes in your life with a positive outlook.  Everything is tied to your perception and the choices you ultimately make in life.  Follow your heart, and you'll do exceptionally well.

Venturing Out

Duck Creek and Frenchman Mtn. at the Wetlands Park

Duck Creek at the Wetlands Park

I ventured out of my comfort zone and hiked the Duck Creek Trail at the Wetlands Park.  It was a beautiful morning, and I felt the urge to walk in a natural setting.  I've always wanted to walk the trails at the Wetlands Park near my home, but I never got around to it because I was either a) busy, b) afraid to go alone, and/or c) lazy.  So this morning I told myself to just do it.  To be the change I always envisioned I could be, even if it meant starting small like hiking alone in my backyard.

It's been so hard adjusting to being alone after the break up, and I've been insecure, depressed, sad, angry, and scared all at the same time.  Sigh.  But I know how important it is for me to find myself and to spend this time improving my emotional and physical well-being.  This is probably the most difficult thing I've gone through, but I have to move on and figure life out on my own.  Sigh.  The journey continues, and I'm going to make damn sure that I take in the magnificent view along the way!

Celebration

Marrakech Moroccan Restaurant on Paradise near Flamingo

Beautiful belly dancer.

My friends and I celebrated a few birthdays (mine included) last night at Marrakech Moroccan Restaurant.  It was my first time there, and I was quite impressed with the decor, ambiance, entertainment, and food.  The menu offered a six-course feast, which included a Moroccan style shrimp scampi, Harira (lentil) soup, Marrakech sampler (hummus, zaaluk, and vegetables), beef brochette (kabob), couscous platter with djaj (chicken), and B'Stilla, a traditional Moroccan pastry filled with fruits and nuts and covered in powdered sugar and cinnamon.  Needless to say, the food and drinks (Moroccan Long Island iced tea and mint tea) were delicious!!!  And it's always wonderful to share an experience with good friends.  We spent the whole time eating, drinking, and laughing!  Brilliant!  Afterwards, we made our way to Freezone for more drinks and dancing.

Surround yourself with the company of good friends, great food, and resounding laughter!