Our Wedding Chapel

This is a picture of the Candlelight Wedding Chapel where Brian and I were married 11-13-1982 in Las Vegas NV. This pretty little chapel was moved to the Las Vegas Historical Museum in Henderson NV. When Brian showed me the article I was swept back to that weekend we were married, what fun we all had. the area now is as you all know grown beyond anyone's wildest imaginations. It was a small town, with nice hotel/casinos with wide open spaces, not like it is today. We all stayed at the Hilton and when I say all I mean all 22 of our friends and family that dove to Vegas to share in our day and what fun we had.
The Candlelight will be rededicated on 11-14 (my birthday) our 27th anniversary is the 13th and Brians 50th Birthday is the 16th WOW what a great weekend it's going to be.
I am planning a small get together with our friends and family to celebrate our anniversary and the Chapel's re dedication.
I will post more pictures soon
Ciao for now

From Track Side with Melli & Other Stuff

It's been 8 years since that horrific day 09-11-01 and one that we should never, ever forget. We have a wonderful country the grand USA to live, we have the freedom the what we want. We have gotten complacent again, our guard is down the timing is right to catch us off guard again, it's going to happen I don't want to think it or say it, there are those that want to see this country destroyed and will stop at nothing to make it happen namely BIN LAUDEN did we forget what he did 8 years ago? We can't forget the images of that day, if we do God help us all. We are not paying attention due the CRAP with economy that's what the terrorist want, they want us all distracted.

I pray that our sweet Lord with protect us all and help us get this precious country back on track which is * IN GOD WE TRUST *.

God bless the loved ones and all of us that are still mourning the massive loss of life on that normal Tuesday back on 09-11-01, let's not repeat history.

Ciao for now

Race To The Chase (Nascar)

From Track Side with Melli & Other Stuff

The Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship is just about to begin, there are only 4 races left until the top 12 start the mad dash for cash and the big trophy which ends the 2nd week of Nov. baring any canceled races which has happened in the past.

The usual suspects are in the top tier right now and my guy Mark Martin is in 12th after the HUGE mistake on the fuel calculation he ran out with 2 laps tg (to go) as did Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy could afford the hit, but Mark couldn't and he's now on the brink of falling out of the top 12.

I know that he follows my blog so I'm going to be positive and look on the bright side, and the only was to go now is UP we have to go UP UP UP ^ ^ ^ ^. Bristol is this Sunday and he hasn't been to this track since 2006 his last full time year, before he went part time for 2 years, so...he needs to just finish that sucker in one piece and in the top ten. I have a felling this will be a good weekend for him.

Once again I am going to do my yearly rant on the Chase....IT SUCKS!!!!!! Just let them ALL race until the end and may the best car/driver/crew win the big prize. But Brian France being who he is will never change this format, he thinks it's great for us the fans. I don't remember him asking me what my feelings were about it, but he now knows my feelings lol, which I have shared with him on more than one occasion while they where here in Vegas.

It's good to see Jr finally hitting his stride and getting in his racing groove, I think he will be just fine. He has had a lot on his shoulders for many years, I have a feeling the dark cloud is gone and Jr will be a force to deal with in the future.

Now for the HOT WEATHER here in Boulder City, yep its still HOT lol and will be for the next 6 weeks UGH!!!!!

Brian is all healed and is ready to get back to work, he really needs to get back to work trust me on this he REALLY needs to get back to work LOL and you all know what I mean.

That my rant for today let me know if you agree about the Chase!!

Ciao for now

Update On Me As Requested

From Track Side with Melli & Other Stuff

As requested I will update you on my new job at St. Rose Hospital DeLima Henderson NV...I work per diem (on call and fill in for open hours) in Admitting which includes the ER. To be very honest being back in the ER was a shock to my system as I've been in the back ground for many years either in management or administrative.

When I was laid off from the local hospital I was devastated and very frightened that I wouldn't be able to get another job with the way the economy had crashed, but with a lot of faith and prayer I was hired within 3 months and started my new job June 1st I was and am thrilled to be working back in a Catholic environment.

I had to get back into my *go* mode which is not stopping from the time you hit the door of the ER until the shift if over. I was a little overwhelmed at first but I soon found myself back in the *groove* responding to codes ect like back in the *old* days.

The pay is good, but you work for your money today, with the high unemployment, and uninsured patients, we are so busy due to the fact that we see everyone regardless of the ability to pay. Most hospitals do, but the care at St. Rose is hands down the best in the state which I'm very proud to be a part of.

I'm hoping for a permanent position soon, there is one opening up sometime either this month or Sept. which I've been asked to bid for. YEAH!!! God is good, he answered my prayers and continues too daily.

As for my outside interest, my husband Brian and I love to travel, spend time with friends, and love Nascar and have for years. I grew up with motor heads in the family, fast cars were the norm, including my mother who had a LEAD foot.

My brother Rodney was and still is at 60 something lol a speed FREAK and Will only drive FORDS. I love to listen to him complain about Chevy blah blah blah, if it's built in this sweet country then I love it. We drive Chevy's LOL we have owned them all from Vettes to what we drive now Caddy for me and Avalanche for Brian, also in our barn is the 2002 Dale Earnhardt Monte Carlo which came out right after he passed away in 2001, we plan on keeping it.

I love writing my rants here and over at Foxspots.net, I am also on Twitter and why I did that I will never know LOL.

Well that's the update on me and thanks for asking :)

Ciao for now

From Track Side with Melli & Other Stuff

Denny Hamlin won the rain delayed race at Pocono congrats to him and his crew, but it wasn't an easy win, the last 20 laps was a crash, bump fest which is good racing. It seems to me that Denny has to have something happen in the background for him to pick it up and win. He was set on winning this race due to his grandmother passing away last week and he did it for her. To stay in the top tier in Cup you must stay that focused not just when something happens to fire you up. Hendrick struggled all day Jimmy was 2 laps down with a car that was running on only 7cs, Mark struggled keeping his butt in the top ten, Jeff was ok and finished in the top ten, and Dales struggles continue, but there may be light at the end of his dark tunnel, I see thing turning around for the 88.

All in all it was a good race with only 5 weeks left, it's going to be very intense with the top 12 racing to stay there until the Chase begins, let the racing being.

Side note...Brian is doing well after surgery and is almost back to normal thank the good Lord.

Ciao for now

Kissing the Bricks *Again*

From Track Side with Melli

What a great ending to a long race Sunday at the Brickyard where Nascar spends a few days on the hollowed grounds of one of the greats racing tracks in the world.

The Indy or Brickyard has almost 100 years of history and now Nascar has itched its small part of the history as to being the only non open wheel racing league to race at the Royal Crown of racing. I have to say that I was working in the ER Sunday, the TVs went down, and the call went out to Cox to GET IT FIXED pronto. I work with several ER Docs that are just crazy about Nascar as I am, and with small flat screens in each treatment area watching a race isn't a problem, so when the cable went down I thought there was going to be another emergency lol all got fixed and I watched the last 20 laps and boy o boy I needed O2 at about this time lmao, I hear this "MELLLLIE!!!! get in here your lil guy is LEADING this damn thing" LOL well, I was with a patient and got over to the flat screen when I could and yeppers he was then I'm hearing the very upset Juan Pablo Montoya yelling that he got robbed for the speeding penalty, and that hurts.

Jimmy took the lead, with Mr. Mark right on his butty kissing it for 10labs OMG I just had to walk away and not watch and get busy doing what I love to do.

Jimmy ended up winning by 2/100th of a sec, Mark lost by 2/100 of a sec oh well, he was very happy and had a blast, plus he got the coveted pole which at the Brickyard is a big deal.

Mark is now 9th in the points and we need to keep going up up up.

I'm hearing that the Brickyard may be no more for Nascar as a scheduled race, as AAA is not going to be the primary sponsor starting next year. When the crappy economy I'm not surprised, I'm sure they are looking in earnest for a title sponsor.

The Brickyard is one of the biggest purses from to 43, finishing last will pocket a team 200K and that for some is a lot.

As for the Jeremy Mayfield deal, it's sad to see a talent go down the way he is going down...as of Sat of this past week they sold off the hauler and cars, they only thing left is shop inventory which I'm sure will be sold soon.

I just can't get why some that are doing so well, turn to drugs ext, I just don't get it and I thank God I never had that problem....in all my 57 yrs I have never tried anything including pot, I just feel the need for it, and if my mom and day and other of my Italian family ever found out, I wouldn't be sitting here ranting here LOL.

Have a great rest of the week, keep cool, keep the water close until the hideous summer of HEAT is over lol.

Ciao for now

Hugs to all and God is so good

From Track Side with Melli & Other Stuff

Here we are again for the 4th time this year with Mark Martin #5 Hendrick Motorsports it just amazing to me to watch Mark after 30 years have a year like he's having. Last night he won at Chicagoland win #4 and is back in 11th in the points. That is what I'm having a hard time getting my head around, the compitation in Nascar today is so stiff which shows with Mark only coming up 2 spots after a win.
He's not a shoe in for the chase, not yet, remember what happend to Kasey Kahane 2 years ago? He won 6 races in 07 and didn't make the chase due to him being inconsistant the last 10 races to the chase, thats why you see the top 12 not top 10 because of all the outrage he wasn't in the chase with 6 wins.
It doesn't matter how many wins you have, if your team isn't spot on, hitting all their marks during the race, the engine shop spot on with the power plants, and all the planets alligned, there isn't any guarentee the team will make the chase.
I'm excited for Mark and crew, but for now until the end of this season they can't miss, its spot on time...Mark is driving better than I've seen in along time. Thats due to him being happy and having fun. Mark is not a points driver, he races to win every race, and if that puts up in the top tier then so be the points as he said last night.
I couldn't watch the entrie race just the last 60 as I was working in the ER, but LOL Dr. Clark has the flat screen tunned to the race so it was hard NOT to watch and I could see Mark was almost lapping the field, I didn't watch not wanting to jinx his run.
Then...our best friend in Norfolk GARYYYYY was texting me a blow by blow LOL which was hard to focus on my work, but I did and all was well when I got home.
We went to dinner at Sunset Station when Mark crossed the finish line man o man was there a HUGE cheer from just about everyone by the sports bar LOL.
Let's just see if Mark/Crew can keep up this momintem I bet he can :)
Ciao for now