A few of my impressions of the downtown Vegas, the rougher, less glitzy side. While there were still lights a plenty, downtown felt distinctly more dangerous. Run-down, off-color, etc. Still loved it down there (we had our best luck there!) but I definately would NOT leave the immediate Fremont St. area and wander around.
Always glad to go, always glad to be home.
In Las Vegas for the week. Yes, it was a tough decision, I was supposed to be at CHA in Chicago but DJ had training in LV for the same week and I had to decide. In the end, a week with my hubby in Sin City (with no kiddos!) won out. I get to lounge all day in the air conditioned room while he's in class. Then about 6 p.m. we get to play (and eat!) our way through Las Vegas at night. Last night we had what was probably the best burger ever at the Burger Barn in the Mandalay Bay (thanks Thad and Steph for the suggestion.) Famed Kobe beef, Ciabatta rolls, jalepeno bacon, pepperjack, slivered red onion, tomato....yum.
Have only taken the camera out one night, so not a whole lot to show you. Hope to take it again tonight, but honestly, awfully hot to lug it around (even my little one, which I used for these.) MUCH funner to use my hands to play blackjack! Hit me!
Stay cool everyone!
t
I added a new, inspiring blog link that I discovered through my lovely friend, Teresa. Called tiny happy and it does, indeed, make me happy (but BIG happy!)
Seeing it reminded me how much I miss doing the type of things she does. Many of you may not know it, but before all this capturing life stuff I used to design, make and sell purses, hats, scarves and such that I either knit or crocheted or sewed or quilted. Love the fashioning of one thing (fabrics or yarns) into something completely else.
Made me realize how much I miss it! You may just start seeing a few other projects show up here in the near future.
Go out and enjoy your weekend! I intend to spend it with those I love (and a few pirates as well!)
xoxo, t
Finally went to the town fireworks! Have only done this once before, about 9 years ago, even before Indy was born, so this was a feat in itself. Really, Really enjoyed it. We actually got the very last parking spot in the lot (after those are gone you have to park down the street and schlep you and all your schtuff in) and spent about 2 hours before the event people-watching, reading, taking photos (me), eating Ruffles and enjoying the light breeze off the Columbia river. Was so nice we vowed to do it every year! The show was great and I actully got to enjoy it as I had enough foresight to bring, and use, my tripod and remote. Set it up beforehand and all I had to do was push the button over and over and over throughout the show.
OK, now, the downside is while it only took us 5 minutes to drive there and 1 minute to unload the car and get to our spot, it took 1 minute to get back to our car and 55 minutes to get out of the parking lot. We saw some really disrespectful (this was Indy's word when she saw it occuring) people drive on the park grass to try and cut in line and 2 people throw trash out of their car onto the grass as they were waiting. Now as these parks are PUD (Chelan County Public Utility District) parks, and BOTH DJ and I work for the PUD - we were not too happy about this. DJ actually rolled down the window and yelled at the people driving on the grass to get off. While I agreed with him in principle, the mom in me who lives in 2006 was nervous about it. We had a child in the car, OUR child. You don't yell at rowdy teenage punks in the middle of the night with your kid in the car. At least I don't. Anyway, it saddens me that 1) they would litter and drive on the grass and that 2) I live in a society (or time period) where it is a scary prospect to say something to these people for fear of recrimination. Kind of an odd, bittersweet, Independence Day. So promise me, all of you mommies and daddies, that you will do you best to raise RESPECTFUL children. Respectful of all they have just because they had the sheer luck of having been born on the wonderful US soil.
t
Probably one of the most famous castles in the world! At least one of the most photographed!
Shade and Carsey on the Mali-BOOM-er. That's it in the photo below also, the TALL one. The one that shoots you up to the top and then drops you. DROPS you. Yes, those shields are to keep any vomit all to yourself. LOVE this ride!
The nights were even more magical than the days. Simply beautiful. This is California Adventureland - the Paradise Pier.
Hang ten, baby.
