Miniature holiday parties with marvelous friends.

This year we have a kitchen the size of a falafel cart. Therefore I am thankful for open Hibachi restaurants.

A cookie as big as your face.

I have a new writing cap. It comes with a goal and a plan. #thankyoumike * not yet with Wolfpack, just planning and goaling. ❤

My biggest takeaways from my conference last week: I've been publishing books in the wrong genre for my soul. My favorite WIP is the right direction; all others will be filed away. My writing people swear like dirty archaeologists and sailors on leave. I now have a fallback whisk(e)y when Pendleton isn't available and I attained focus and clarity on my business plan. I'm inspired by all the introverts who did their very best to be extroverted this last week. * Oh, and get more pictures taken of myself. I seem to excel at strange and fuzzy hotel room selfies.

For those of you who have been watching our seemingly insane behavior over the past years, this is the day we've all been waiting for. In the past ten years we've owned 5 houses and moved 7 times. In April of 2021, we decided to quit everything in New Mexico and start over in Fort Collins, though we had no idea what we'd do. Jasons goal after 26 years as a Firefighter: being a Fire, EMS and HAZMAT emergency manager and instructor for industry. Today, all those moves and changes proved that if you want something badly enough, taking the road less traveled and subverting the dominant paradigm can get you what you want the most... even if it is a job wearing a tie. Congrats to Jason on his hard-earned success, and his first day of tie-wearing!

I have been to Vegas so many times I've lost count. I've had a car break down here full of everything I owned. At 19, I got married to a 46 year old here. One very bad night in 1997, I wandered the strip at 3am (not recommended) looking for a pawn shop to sell that wedding ring for money to gamble more and forget my life. I've spent countless hours sitting in the airport in a flight attendant uniform waiting for the next leg of my trip... However, this visit to Vegas just changed everything for me in the most positive way imaginable, and I can't wait to meet my tribe here again next year.

Other than all the freaking amazing people I'm meeting and all that I am learning, the best takeaway is: A CAKE VENDING MACHINE.

Just chillin' with 1,500 humans of my tribe.