Firsts and Fabulous Flatscreens
By Stacey Naggiar, NBC Universal
The longest five days of my life are coming to a close at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. I'm exhausted, my feet hurt, my back hurts, and I lost a substantial amount of money for a 22 year old. Nonetheless, I am smiling, thinking about all the exciting things I've done and the wonderful people I've met here, my first in time Las Vegas, and my first time at CES.
As an NBCU employee in Charlotte, NC I came to CES as an "outsider" among the majority of employees from NY. I had apprehensions about being the odd-man-out and probably the most inexperienced, but I was met with overwhelming warmth and welcome from my NYC colleagues. Never have I been made to feel a part of something so quickly. Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who made my first experience as a NBCU brand ambassador a special one!
Wake up calls at 12am and 10 hour days on my feet... this wasn't quite the picture I had in my mind of what my first time in Vegas would be like. Let's just say on my next trip to Vegas, there will be many many other "firsts" that I'll have to give a try. But there is one first I am very proud of, and ... a little embarrassed about too. My first shot at gambling and my first time at the craps tables. After standing around for an hour trying to follow the dice, chips and lingo I finally picked up enough to put down some money. On my first roll I launched the die across the table only to hit the table attendants hands. I was properly scolded for throwing too hard. It didn't take too long before I crapped out. Maybe I'll have better luck next time.... it was just so hard to walk away!
It would be insensitive to talk about my firsts in Vegas and not mention the awesomeness that is CES. As a self-proclaimed movie nerd, this place is my heaven. Surround-sound systems that can literally blow your mind, crystal clear HDTVs with gorgeous images, the new and exciting 3D TVs and my favorite, the fabulously thin flatscreens. Flatscreens the thickness (or "thinness" rather) of a few pieces of paper. All I can think is I want it, I want it, I want it, and I wouldn't complain if I could get one of the 3D TVs either! But I suppose it just wasn't mean to be on my first trip to Vegas that I'd walk away from the craps tables with enough money to buy a new flatscreen.
Headed to the airport in a few hours for what I'm sure will be a "fabulous" five-hour-flight home in a middle seat... I am grateful more than anything for my first time in Las Vegas, my first time as a brand ambassador and my first time at CES. Most of all I'm thankful for this lovely group of people I had the opportunity to work with and hope that we all stay in touch!
