I don't need a season to be grateful, but I'll go ahead and use this as a platform to tell you all how deeply appreciative I am to have talked to you, gotten to know you and met some of you and how grateful I am that you keep coming back day after day and reading the most nonsensical tripe ever posted on the internet. You rock.
Thank you for your generosity, your sense of humor, your concern for me, your desire to see me and most importantly, your desire to form a connection with me. Your amazing dedication to me humbles me.
Thank you for making my life richer and fuller just by knowing all of you are out there and cheering me on, thank you for buoying my spirits when I see my loyal following. Thank you for taking an interest, there is no greater a compliment to me than your interest. I am truly, truly undeserving, but oh, so grateful.
I hope as this year comes to an end that you take stock of the amazing things in your life, that you love deeply and live a life unbridled all while being grateful, I know for a fact that I have and that I am.
Happy holidays to you from a very, very grateful me.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Courtesy
I'm sure this post will surprise no one that actually knows me. I'm southern born, Dallas to be exact (for you slackers who haven't read my whole, beautiful blog), and I was raised a certain way.
For instance, I hand write thank you notes for everything anyone has every done for me in the whole wide world at any time. Everyone should have a thank you note in my handwriting by now.
I remember birthdays and anniversaries, the day you got your tonsils removed, and that dog that died when you were a teenager? That too. And, I write you to let you know that I remember. Not to browbeat with my fabulous memory OR manners, but because it was drilled into my head that this is What You Do.
I've been told I'm a very polite person. Yes, because I didn't want to get beaten (just kidding!). I actually revel in my politeness. I say 'thank you' for every goddamned thing anyone ever does for me, not once, but most likely a hundred times. Waitresses wonder if it's a tic. 'Thank you for the extra napkins. Oh, did I thank you for those napkins? Oh, by the way, thank you for those napkins in case you didn't hear me before.' Yeah, that tic.
So, having grown up with these severe southern sensibilities, I admit that my expectations of people are probably quite a bit higher than is normal in this age of go, go, go, email, text, Twitter, Facebook (good god, Facebook) and whatever other social network that's comes alive and saturates your brain with the push of a button on your iPad/iPhone/Android/PC/laptop.
I love politeness. Love it, remember it, make note of it, mention it, frame it and hang it in my head to remember how amazing the person who has propagated this lovely THING that I hold so close to my fluttering heart is. Oh my (can you hear Scarlett O'Hara AT ALL?).
Having said all of that, I say this: politeness is a fading art. It is disappointing that people are losing respect for one another and, in doing so, the small ways that tell people, 'you are important' or 'I appreciate you' is going away. And that's really sad.
I just ask that you extend to me the same courtesy I extend to you. If I've responded to you, write me back. If you call and I return that call, call again. If you like something I've done or said or written, tell me about it. I can assure you that I will make my whole family proud and return the favor.
For instance, I hand write thank you notes for everything anyone has every done for me in the whole wide world at any time. Everyone should have a thank you note in my handwriting by now.
I remember birthdays and anniversaries, the day you got your tonsils removed, and that dog that died when you were a teenager? That too. And, I write you to let you know that I remember. Not to browbeat with my fabulous memory OR manners, but because it was drilled into my head that this is What You Do.
I've been told I'm a very polite person. Yes, because I didn't want to get beaten (just kidding!). I actually revel in my politeness. I say 'thank you' for every goddamned thing anyone ever does for me, not once, but most likely a hundred times. Waitresses wonder if it's a tic. 'Thank you for the extra napkins. Oh, did I thank you for those napkins? Oh, by the way, thank you for those napkins in case you didn't hear me before.' Yeah, that tic.
So, having grown up with these severe southern sensibilities, I admit that my expectations of people are probably quite a bit higher than is normal in this age of go, go, go, email, text, Twitter, Facebook (good god, Facebook) and whatever other social network that's comes alive and saturates your brain with the push of a button on your iPad/iPhone/Android/PC/laptop.
I love politeness. Love it, remember it, make note of it, mention it, frame it and hang it in my head to remember how amazing the person who has propagated this lovely THING that I hold so close to my fluttering heart is. Oh my (can you hear Scarlett O'Hara AT ALL?).
Having said all of that, I say this: politeness is a fading art. It is disappointing that people are losing respect for one another and, in doing so, the small ways that tell people, 'you are important' or 'I appreciate you' is going away. And that's really sad.
I just ask that you extend to me the same courtesy I extend to you. If I've responded to you, write me back. If you call and I return that call, call again. If you like something I've done or said or written, tell me about it. I can assure you that I will make my whole family proud and return the favor.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Addendum to My Holiday Donation Post
I'm sorry, I should have specifically mentioned that I am only doing my food drive in Las Vegas, not in D.C.
If I know anything about the generosity of D.C. men, I know that the donations I'd get would be overwhelming and I'd need a private plane to haul it all back! So, I cannot accept canned goods while I'm there. And, as much as I'd love to, I can't give the discount, either. It's very expensive for me to travel there, what with getting us a fantastic place to rendevous, flight and car rental I can only show my appreciation to you by making sure you have the most fabulous time ever. I hope that's enough.
I should have thought about this before I posted, but here we are.
So...I'm a bad Nikki. Santa says spank me.
If I know anything about the generosity of D.C. men, I know that the donations I'd get would be overwhelming and I'd need a private plane to haul it all back! So, I cannot accept canned goods while I'm there. And, as much as I'd love to, I can't give the discount, either. It's very expensive for me to travel there, what with getting us a fantastic place to rendevous, flight and car rental I can only show my appreciation to you by making sure you have the most fabulous time ever. I hope that's enough.
I should have thought about this before I posted, but here we are.
So...I'm a bad Nikki. Santa says spank me.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Problems
I understand the need to keep up with my blog, I really do, but something terrible has happened. I started going to the gym and all of my body parts stopped working. Well, most. Heh.
If there is anyone to blame for this mess it's my trainer. If you need her number hit me up, anyone in defense of me is welcome to it. Cheerleaders for the other team need not apply. She is blissfully unaware that I need my appendages to work. They are there for a reason, dammit. So that I can look through clothes racks for my next sexy outfit. Duh.
I need to ask her what she has against my legs. Arms. Butt. Abs. Really, what? They hurt ALL. THE. TIME.
Also, the StairMaster is not necessary. Satan designed it and it is therefore against my religion to go near it. That didn't work in case you were wondering.
Elliptical, treadmill, bicycle. Torture devices. Legal torture devices.
I swear, I'll be in the middle of having a heat stroke in my face (that's where all the blood rushes) and I'm just waiting for the police to bust in and shut the place down. Apparently they don't see things the same way.
I'm not asking for much, I just want to be able to walk upright out of the gym. Crawling is so hard on my knees. At the rate I'm going I'm going to have to replace every joint in my body.
And supplements. What do I look like? A science experiment? Glucosamine, omegas, Muscle Milk (mmmm, this one is tasty, tasty), protein, B-12. Stop already. Okay, keep the Muscle Milk.
I've been working out for 2 oh-so-long weeks and nothing. I quit. (Just kidding, she sends guys with necks the size of my waist over every morning - I have no choices).
So, if you need me to write something for you to keep you happy and it looks like this: **$)I+#)#HKNBB#_(#&& - don't worry, in the interest of maintaining my blog I used my head to type as my arms no longer work.
If there is anyone to blame for this mess it's my trainer. If you need her number hit me up, anyone in defense of me is welcome to it. Cheerleaders for the other team need not apply. She is blissfully unaware that I need my appendages to work. They are there for a reason, dammit. So that I can look through clothes racks for my next sexy outfit. Duh.
I need to ask her what she has against my legs. Arms. Butt. Abs. Really, what? They hurt ALL. THE. TIME.
Also, the StairMaster is not necessary. Satan designed it and it is therefore against my religion to go near it. That didn't work in case you were wondering.
Elliptical, treadmill, bicycle. Torture devices. Legal torture devices.
I swear, I'll be in the middle of having a heat stroke in my face (that's where all the blood rushes) and I'm just waiting for the police to bust in and shut the place down. Apparently they don't see things the same way.
I'm not asking for much, I just want to be able to walk upright out of the gym. Crawling is so hard on my knees. At the rate I'm going I'm going to have to replace every joint in my body.
And supplements. What do I look like? A science experiment? Glucosamine, omegas, Muscle Milk (mmmm, this one is tasty, tasty), protein, B-12. Stop already. Okay, keep the Muscle Milk.
I've been working out for 2 oh-so-long weeks and nothing. I quit. (Just kidding, she sends guys with necks the size of my waist over every morning - I have no choices).
So, if you need me to write something for you to keep you happy and it looks like this: **$)I+#)#HKNBB#_(#&& - don't worry, in the interest of maintaining my blog I used my head to type as my arms no longer work.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Integrity
There is one characteristic about me that I've always taken pride in and that is my integrity. I guard it fiercely and no one is allowed to compromise that.
My name and my identity are sacred. I consider doing this a privilege, but it is also my livelihood and like any good manager would do, I intend to defend my position and my business.
In my personal life I have great credit, I pay my bills on time without fail (a day late isn't acceptable to me), I honor my word, I'm a friend, a sister and a mother and I'm depended on. I don't fail those who need me.
I have pretty great reviews because I put all of my energy and effort into having spectacular moments with the men who see something in me that causes them to choose me over everyone else. It comes from a sense of wanting to show appreciation for their choice and a place of gratitude (and because I LOVE doing it!).
I'm not perfect, I make mistakes, but as life goes, I am a pretty honorable person.
Lately my integrity has been called into question by not-so-stable people that I've come in contact with through this business and I feel the need to defend myself on at least some small level.
First, let me state the obvious: people have agendas. People with an axe to grind most certainly do. I've come into contact with it recently and it's ugly. People without dogs in the fight have come in with agendas. Loyalty can be a good thing if it weren't so outrageously misguided, but I digress.
My position about this and every other thing in my life is: I am guided by the situation, by the acts of the other person, by a need to secure my personal safety and by my own internal compass. Nothing that is done to me is worth me compromising my integrity. If I did something it was based on facts that no one but the people intimately involved know about. Assuming otherwise, listening to biased parties, etc. sounds like politics to me!
So, to end this random post, whatever you've heard about me comes from a disgruntled person with an agenda and that is to smear my reputation. From my standpoint I feel safe and secure in knowing that nothing happened that caused me to compromise my integrity and I genuinely feel that in the deepest part of me.
Thanks for reading and I hope you'll continue to see me as the Nikki Irish you've always know. Thanks for being so awesome.
My name and my identity are sacred. I consider doing this a privilege, but it is also my livelihood and like any good manager would do, I intend to defend my position and my business.
In my personal life I have great credit, I pay my bills on time without fail (a day late isn't acceptable to me), I honor my word, I'm a friend, a sister and a mother and I'm depended on. I don't fail those who need me.
I have pretty great reviews because I put all of my energy and effort into having spectacular moments with the men who see something in me that causes them to choose me over everyone else. It comes from a sense of wanting to show appreciation for their choice and a place of gratitude (and because I LOVE doing it!).
I'm not perfect, I make mistakes, but as life goes, I am a pretty honorable person.
Lately my integrity has been called into question by not-so-stable people that I've come in contact with through this business and I feel the need to defend myself on at least some small level.
First, let me state the obvious: people have agendas. People with an axe to grind most certainly do. I've come into contact with it recently and it's ugly. People without dogs in the fight have come in with agendas. Loyalty can be a good thing if it weren't so outrageously misguided, but I digress.
My position about this and every other thing in my life is: I am guided by the situation, by the acts of the other person, by a need to secure my personal safety and by my own internal compass. Nothing that is done to me is worth me compromising my integrity. If I did something it was based on facts that no one but the people intimately involved know about. Assuming otherwise, listening to biased parties, etc. sounds like politics to me!
So, to end this random post, whatever you've heard about me comes from a disgruntled person with an agenda and that is to smear my reputation. From my standpoint I feel safe and secure in knowing that nothing happened that caused me to compromise my integrity and I genuinely feel that in the deepest part of me.
Thanks for reading and I hope you'll continue to see me as the Nikki Irish you've always know. Thanks for being so awesome.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Holidays and Donations
It's the time of year that I love: the holidays! Sleigh bells ringing and all of that stuff. Oh, and Black Friday...I mean, Thanksgiving!
The air is getting cooler, but the days are so sunny! I love Vegas more than I thought I possibly could, but I'll write about that later.
Every year since I began doing this sexy thing I do (except last year when I was moving), I've collected canned/dry goods for food pantries in exchange for a discount for the amazingly generous men who see me at the holidays.
So, beginning November 15, 2011 and going through December 31, 2011, I again will be offering a $50 discount per hour for every 3 cans of food/dried items you bring (ex: 2 hour date + 6 canned or dried items = $100 discount). The maximum discount is $50/hr. So, you can bring me 6 cans/dried items for a one hour meeting, but you only get the $50 discount for the hour.
I have always have been most fortunate to have friends who are more than willing to help me with my food drive and I hope that this year is no different! Thank you in advance for being so wonderful!
Here is a list of the most needed items:
Canned meat, such as tuna, chicken, ham and Spam
Dried and canned beans
Canned soups
Rice
Macaroni and cheese
Peanut butter
Please limit your donations to these items PLEASE! Thank you!
I look forward to seeing you and enjoying the holidays with you. And thank you for helping others have a wonderful holiday as well!
The air is getting cooler, but the days are so sunny! I love Vegas more than I thought I possibly could, but I'll write about that later.
Every year since I began doing this sexy thing I do (except last year when I was moving), I've collected canned/dry goods for food pantries in exchange for a discount for the amazingly generous men who see me at the holidays.
So, beginning November 15, 2011 and going through December 31, 2011, I again will be offering a $50 discount per hour for every 3 cans of food/dried items you bring (ex: 2 hour date + 6 canned or dried items = $100 discount). The maximum discount is $50/hr. So, you can bring me 6 cans/dried items for a one hour meeting, but you only get the $50 discount for the hour.
I have always have been most fortunate to have friends who are more than willing to help me with my food drive and I hope that this year is no different! Thank you in advance for being so wonderful!
Here is a list of the most needed items:
Canned meat, such as tuna, chicken, ham and Spam
Dried and canned beans
Canned soups
Rice
Macaroni and cheese
Peanut butter
Please limit your donations to these items PLEASE! Thank you!
I look forward to seeing you and enjoying the holidays with you. And thank you for helping others have a wonderful holiday as well!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Pet Peeves
As a redhead I'm pretty fiery about the things I believe in. I feel passionate about most things; docile or apathetic are not words generally used to describe me.
That brings me to this amazing life that I get to live. Meeting amazing people and having incredible moments with them really does bring something to my life. Having said that, though, I do meet people who sometimes fail to impress. Let me say that a majority meet or exceed my high expectations, but there are always those few. You know who you are (but if you don't...allow me).
The things that really light my fire (in an arson sort of way) are things that really come down to being ignorant of or ignoring basic courtesies.
The first is being late. I could be rabid about this (as I really do my very best to be on time to everything), but it really gets to me. I really try to be flexible, but I really do get bored of hearing about traffic delays. Unless you just fell into a large city from a spaceship that captured you before cars were invented, you realize what traffic patterns exist in your world. Let me tell you, I've lived in NYC, DC, Boston and Houston/Dallas (as far as high traffic areas go) I KNOW what traffic is. I also know that if I ever wanted to be somewhere on time that I left hours early never trusting that it would be a good day. My reliability is my best asset. Please make it yours when dealing with me. Thank you, Mr. Punctual. Heh.
Speaking of time; I really enjoy being with you, honestly I do, but I live my life on a schedule. I go to school, I have dogs that need to be walked, loved and coddled like the spoiled brats I've molded them to be, I have groceries to buy, errands to run, bills to pay and shoes to buy (thank you for your contribution to those last two items - I love you). I find you fascinating and I truly enjoy your company, but I have limits. Those limits don't necessarily start and stop at the hour mark, but if I'm kind enough to not watch that clock, be kind enough to ask me if I have the time to spare on your own. It makes me feel like the extra time I give you is valued. Being taken advantage of is my least favorite activity.
Be a gentleman. The majority of you have this down to an art form. Your graciousness, thoughtfulness and kindness fill me with gratitude and make me so thankful that I get to do this amazing thing that I love so much. Without partners like you this would not be worth doing, so thank you. There are those very few that will, however, go on boards, write reviews and generally speak negatively. I find this to be crass and offensive. If you don't enjoy something about our experience, not telling me immediately effectively takes away your right to degrade and insult me in public forums (not that it should ever happen, but whatever). At least that's my opinion. It doesn't happen much, but when it does it makes doing this a little harder and a little less fun. I really dislike when a person can't help but lose all manners regarding such an intimate experience. The old adage 'if you can't say something nice...' surely should apply here. At any rate, it makes you look unkind and women don't want to see unkind men, so you know. And may I reiterate that there are very few who behave this way, the rest of you make my world go 'round.
So, now that I've gotten this out of the way I hope we can continue to be good friends. I adore meeting you and spending time with you; it has to be one of my favorite activities in the world (if you couldn't tell) and I really am so appreciative that, out of all the beautiful women in the world, you choose me to spend time with. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
That brings me to this amazing life that I get to live. Meeting amazing people and having incredible moments with them really does bring something to my life. Having said that, though, I do meet people who sometimes fail to impress. Let me say that a majority meet or exceed my high expectations, but there are always those few. You know who you are (but if you don't...allow me).
The things that really light my fire (in an arson sort of way) are things that really come down to being ignorant of or ignoring basic courtesies.
The first is being late. I could be rabid about this (as I really do my very best to be on time to everything), but it really gets to me. I really try to be flexible, but I really do get bored of hearing about traffic delays. Unless you just fell into a large city from a spaceship that captured you before cars were invented, you realize what traffic patterns exist in your world. Let me tell you, I've lived in NYC, DC, Boston and Houston/Dallas (as far as high traffic areas go) I KNOW what traffic is. I also know that if I ever wanted to be somewhere on time that I left hours early never trusting that it would be a good day. My reliability is my best asset. Please make it yours when dealing with me. Thank you, Mr. Punctual. Heh.
Speaking of time; I really enjoy being with you, honestly I do, but I live my life on a schedule. I go to school, I have dogs that need to be walked, loved and coddled like the spoiled brats I've molded them to be, I have groceries to buy, errands to run, bills to pay and shoes to buy (thank you for your contribution to those last two items - I love you). I find you fascinating and I truly enjoy your company, but I have limits. Those limits don't necessarily start and stop at the hour mark, but if I'm kind enough to not watch that clock, be kind enough to ask me if I have the time to spare on your own. It makes me feel like the extra time I give you is valued. Being taken advantage of is my least favorite activity.
Be a gentleman. The majority of you have this down to an art form. Your graciousness, thoughtfulness and kindness fill me with gratitude and make me so thankful that I get to do this amazing thing that I love so much. Without partners like you this would not be worth doing, so thank you. There are those very few that will, however, go on boards, write reviews and generally speak negatively. I find this to be crass and offensive. If you don't enjoy something about our experience, not telling me immediately effectively takes away your right to degrade and insult me in public forums (not that it should ever happen, but whatever). At least that's my opinion. It doesn't happen much, but when it does it makes doing this a little harder and a little less fun. I really dislike when a person can't help but lose all manners regarding such an intimate experience. The old adage 'if you can't say something nice...' surely should apply here. At any rate, it makes you look unkind and women don't want to see unkind men, so you know. And may I reiterate that there are very few who behave this way, the rest of you make my world go 'round.
So, now that I've gotten this out of the way I hope we can continue to be good friends. I adore meeting you and spending time with you; it has to be one of my favorite activities in the world (if you couldn't tell) and I really am so appreciative that, out of all the beautiful women in the world, you choose me to spend time with. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
10 Things I LOVE
1. Laughing so hard I cry
2. Soft, warm sheets
3. The silence of scuba diving
4. My dogs, my dogs, my dogs
5. Dressing up beautifully
6. Southern comfort food: mac 'n cheese, mashed potatoes, meatloaf
7. Talking to my sons
8. Driving fast on a sunny day with the sunroof open
9. Hearing my family tell me they love and miss me
10. Listening to John Denver's Greatest Hits and thinking about my dad
2. Soft, warm sheets
3. The silence of scuba diving
4. My dogs, my dogs, my dogs
5. Dressing up beautifully
6. Southern comfort food: mac 'n cheese, mashed potatoes, meatloaf
7. Talking to my sons
8. Driving fast on a sunny day with the sunroof open
9. Hearing my family tell me they love and miss me
10. Listening to John Denver's Greatest Hits and thinking about my dad
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