Hi, again it’s Anita. Welcome to the birth of my blog. I have a lot going on in my brain. Ask anybody that knows me. I’m one of those people that are constantly curious and constantly doing or thinking something. My mind doesn’t slow down for anything. ANYTHING. Be it lack of sleep, aggravation, anger, joy, happiness…. It’s always, and I always mean… going a hundred miles an hour. Now, being 51, I have embraced who I am, (almost, not really, but that’s where I’m supposed to be, right?) (•_•) …unfortunately my heart hasn’t though as it went on strike 5 years ago and stung me with high blood pressure, another conundrum.

Anyhow… I have a lot to say and have a shit ton of questions, so I’ve decided to do what most people are doing these days and write a blog & dream of responses that will help me fill in the blanks. The reason I made my blog name Curiosities & Conundrums, (I know, longer than shit….22 flipping letters), is because I’m constantly curious and I gotta tell ya, I’m always facing conundrums. My biggest conundrum right now is turning 51 and not knowing what the hell I want to do with my life. I’ve been married, now divorced, I have four kids, which are all grown and doing they’re own lives and having their own curiosities and conundrums about life so of course, not too much time for good ole mom.

Oh well… now the cool part, being alone and single, I could do ANYTHING. There are days I want to go live on an island, learn how to make leis, and pass them out on the side of the road. Other days I want to live in a metropolis, in the city, not own a car and walk everywhere. While all along being enthralled in the arts, becoming good friends with all my Uber drivers, and do all the things I couldn’t do when I was younger. Being a creative, (Interior Designer 22 years), AND a salesman at heart, I could go many places with the things I’m capable of doing, but lately, that must be the biggest conundrum of them all. Should I stay or should I go?? That song again… The question WAS, Do I leave fabulous Las Vegas, Sin City, and start a new life somewhere else? Do I follow my kids to Denver since I miss them at times so much that I just cry for no reason? Pathetic? Maybe…? Or do I go to that island somewhere… where it’s warm and tropical and wear a bikini all day, pick sand out of all my cracks & crevices and get the best tan of my life…cause there I can stay fit and do sit-ups on the beach…. naaaaa, who am I kidding, HA! Maybe yoga on the beach…that sounds more like it or really just lay on the beach, yea that’s the ticket. (Just dated me yet again) Or…. do I save up 5-8k and backpack all over Europe with my camera in hand and be the photog I really want to be? Having cappuccinos in piazzas, carrying baguettes under 1 arm & fresh flowers from the market under the other arm, all along smelling of lavender or wine or something European?? Aaaaa (sigh)
Crap. FUCK.
(No wonder fuck is my favorite word, and my life is just a myriad of conundrums.)

As I wrote and re-wrote this 2nd entry and had every human being I know to read and reread my blog things started to happen. Fast forward to end of  August 2016, and I was faced with another HUUUGE, as our new president would say CONUNDRUM. Wait till you hear what happened. Going to rewind—like you know…movies do, that start and stop in present and past to try and catch up to today! It’s a long one but so many people have asked why I picked up and left and below…here’s why!!!!

As I mentioned up above I have been contemplating leaving Vegas for about 6 or so years now. On August 24th, it was a random Wednesday and at about 7 AM I got a knock on my door. And as I open it of course which is standing there but Jacqueline Taylor Morgan, my youngest daughter. She had warned me that she needed to talk to me and asked me my days off, but little did I know that was her intention. So SURPRISE she was here to visit momma!! I was delighted!

Quickly I got ready for work and whisked her away with me. Here it was another random Wednesday before my two days off at my current job 7 For All Mankind, and I was about to meet two people that would change my life. In walks two women and an older gentleman, Natalie my associate was helping them, but I needed to come to her rescue. As time progressed, I put on my jean expert hat and sold jeans like the expert I was. Jacki watching all along, I in the best mood ever because of her visit… I introduced her as this team was from a store named Kemo Sabe and were based out of Colorado. After my dog and pony show about the best jeans I had ever worn all of a sudden Wendy, the GM of the company, out of nowhere asks me point blank, “do you want to come run my store in Vail, Colorado?” I laughed, and said, “don’t threaten me with a good time as I’ve been trying to leave Vegas for years considering all four of my kids live in Denver.” After the sale, I embarrassed, wasn’t able to offer anything to them but water from a plastic cup. About 15 minutes later here comes Yoder, the owner of the company, with three drinks from HIS store with more vodka than I had, had in I don’t know how long….saying what a great experience he had and thanking me once again for his new jeans. SCORE!!

Later that afternoon, Wendy comes down to the store and says she would like to take Jacki and me to drinks at Joe’s Crab there at the Forum Shops to talk about my future with their company. 5 o’clock rolls around, and I’m downstairs having drinks talking about running their store in Vail Colorado and hearing all about the culture that makes Kemo Sabe one of the best stores in the world!! Reservations are made, and the following week I’m flown to Aspen to see the Aspen store then drive to Vail to see my future store. Three full days of being wined and dined AND I get lucky enough to go on a private horseback ride through the hills and valleys of Yoder’s property and shown the ropes of what could be my future life. Needless to say, you can imagine the conundrums I’m facing and the excitement that comes along with it. One minute I’m at work the next I’m being offered a job, and a move all rolled into one. Close to my kids and a salary with great potential. So….. guess what I do…. I DID IT!!!! I picked up and quit my job two weeks later, packed up my house and poof… I was gone and driving back to Vail to find my place, and by November 8th I’m GONE. Adios, see ya Vegas and all that comes with you.

Did I mention that right about October 15th I went into a complete panic and thought I may be making a huge mistake…. talk about conundrums. CRAP. I made the commitment & had to go through with it. Anita, the summer girl, moving to the cold of Colorado. Snow galore and this was going to be my life. And what a ride it has been so far….. stay tuned!