*Carried* Away

Hello Everyone!! I thought I would take some time to update you all on the happenings of the past week. Obviously we--Nancy, Brad and I--arrived safely down here in Vegas!! And it was HOT!! We arrived around 11:30pm and it was 104 degrees outside!!!! Crazy!!! We stayed in a hotel that night--got a very nice discount, thanks to Brad --and then we got up early so I could go to my "hands on" part of my interview with the Venetian. Well, we got to the hotel and I finally found my way to the spa and it blew me away how huge this place was!!! It was amazing! It had a rock climbing wall, excerising area and a little cafe where you could get lots of healthy things to snack on!! I met up with the girl I was going go give the massage to--her name was Krista and she was one of the lead therapists there. She had been working there for 8 years! She was super nice!! She said that this was one of the biggest spas in the nation!! There are 85 rooms in this spa!! Anyway, I gave her a massage and she said that i did a great job and that she was going to recommend that they hire me!!! Yay!! She said that someone would call me to set up a time to do an interview. So, I was VERY happy!! So, after that i called one of my roommates and asked when would be a good time to come and move my stuff in. We found out that we had some time to kill, so we went and got something to eat. After that, we made our way to my new house!!! We met one of my roommates named Celeste. She is really cute!! She works as an esthetician. So we moved in all my stuff--then we had to sit and enjoy the air conditioning for a while!! We then decided to go back to the Strip and see some things around there before Nancy and Brad had to take off!! So we went to the Bellagio and Ceasars Palace and just wandered around and saw some cool shops and things like that. There was a really cool little garden at the Bellagio that i took quite a few pictures at. I will try and send them to you. Anyway, we then went back to the house to get Nancy and Brad on their way. It was hard to say good-bye, but we did and then i went up to my room to start unpacking. I got pretty much everything unpacked when i got a friendly text from Brad reminding me to wipe off all the bugs on the side of my entertainment center!! Yeah, that was gross!! We didn't cover the stuff in Brad's truck, so luckily that was the only thing that got bugs on it!! Hehehe!! I met the rest of my roommates later that evening when they all came home from work. Their names are Raeann, Becky, and CJ. All three of them work as Elementary School teachers!! Raeann is 26, Becky and CJ are 22 and Celeste is 21. I guess i get to be the "mother" of the house, being the oldest!! Oh, well, i'm used to being the oldest among my friends!! Raeann also served a mission in Canada, so we've been able to talk about our msisions a little bit. I have really enjoyed getting to know all the girls!! I have found many things in common with all of them and we all get along really well!! I feel so blessed to have been able to find this house!! So, i just got settled that night and the next morning. On Wednesday, one of the guys from the ward, Derrick was having a birthday party so we went to that and i was able to meet some of the members of the ward!! It was really fun!! It was my first poolside party in Vegas--i hope there are many more to come in the future!! After the party some of us went and saw a movie-. We saw Hancock. It was pretty good. However, if you thought the prices for movies was expensive there in Utah, you have no idea what expensive is till you come here!!! It was $10 for a movie!!! Ahhhhh!!! Anyway, it was good times and the guy i sat next to i found out that he served in the same mission i did!!!! Crazy!!! He, of course, came after me, but it was cool to talk about some of the places we served!! Random!! Anyway, the next day i just ran some errands and we had institute that night. We just had it at a local church house--i think it is the one we go to for church. They are just doing a lecture series right now. It was a very nice lecture!! I also got a call from Mom and Dad that evening!! It was so good to hear from them!! I really needed that!! The next day was the 4th of July and i found out that one of my friends, Gamyr, from The Egyptian Theater was coming down to Vegas to do the lights for a concert!! He is a lighting designer, so he was doing the lights for this show. Guess who was doing the concert?!?! The band AMERICA!!! He came down on Thursday night and we met up for dinner and then he got me into the concert for free on Friday night!!! It was soooo much fun!! They did a great job!! I was then going to go meet up with my roommate Becky and her friend Derrick and sit on the roof of his house and watch all the fireworks across the valley, but i didn't leave the concert in time and so i saw a lot of them on the drive to his house!! So, i didn't get to see many fireworks, but it was still a fun night!! It was good to see a friend and a familiar face!! Saturday was just kind of a chill day. Me and Raeann hung out pretty much the whole day. Oh, i forgot to tell you, that Raeann broke her ankle in a motorbike accident, so she is on crutches and can't do much, so i broke out my Gilmore Girls and we watched those for a while!! Yay for Gilmore Girls!! Well, now it's sunday and it's time for church!! We have church at 1:00--which is a good thing cuz it gives all us girls time to get ready!!! Otherwise i would have to wake up at like 5AM if i wanted to get ready in time!!! Lol!!! As far as my job search goes, i FINALLY got a call from the Venetian and they are going to hire me!!!!! Of, course it will only be "on call"--which i was expecting. So i will be on call Friday, Saturday and Sunday then hopefully i will work my way up to part time. So in the meantime, i am going to apply at Massage Envy--which is only about 10 minutes away from my house--and i have also applied at Treasure Island and Excalibur!! I have an interview at Excalibur on Thursday the 10th, so i hope that goes well!! So things are finally coming together bit by bit!! I am so grateful to all of you for all your support !! It means the world to me and i know the Lord is blessing me every single day--more than i even realize!! I love you all so much and please keep in touch and come and visit sometime, if you have the time!! Lots of Love!!!

Carrie