Viva Las Vegas 2008-'Those Pink and Black Days'

Here we are. Back from another great vacation in sunny Las Vegas and hankering ever more to return...possibly for good.

Following is my trip report and though all of it may not be of interest, you guys are welcome to read it.

THURSDAY:

After an slightly turbulent plane ride (Victor wore his baby b'air and I loved the security it gave me when the bumpy parts came), we finally arrived at McCarran Intl. Airport, which is in my opinion the real low point of any Las Vegas Trip. The place is a veritable maze and the Baggage Claim area is gargantuan (and confusing). We must be getting used to it however, since we got out of there in relatively quick time. We were smart this time and took the shuttle instead of a cab. Cabs to the strip are cheap (5-8 bucks); a Taxi to our off-strip hotel (The Orleans) runs up to 25.00 so taking a shuttle (at 7.00 a person) is always a better option. We had only two stops before making it to our resort, which allowed us to check in early. After ordering club sandwiches via room service, husband and baby relaxed, and I picked up the rental car. By 4pm we had made it to the Gold Coast for our event wristbands and were well on our way sightseeing. We had opted to make the drive to Boulder City this day, which is only about 15 miles outside of Vegas. It proved to be a lovely drive and the small town was great with alot of big old established trees, gorgeous views, and a cool downtown area that reminded me the Old West. Since Hoover Dam was only a short drive away we made a quick visit (impressive!) and headed back to meet our friends, Misty and Michael, who were just arriving. Since it was already pretty late, we only just had time for dinner and some shopping before bed. Little Victor was very sleepy, poor thing.



FRIDAY:

The Orleans has 15 (count 'em, fifteen)restaurants and The Courtyard Cafe was our choice for Friday breakfast. After which, Michael and Misty went to the Gold Coast for their wristbands and we made a 40 mile drive to Pahrump NV (yep, as in 'pahrump-a-pum-pum') to scout around and basically visit the local Wal Mart. It's fun and familiar to visit Wal Mart when you're away from home...try it sometime. The drive across the desert was INCREDIBLE and overwhelming. The joshua trees and craggy mountains made for the most brilliant landscape I've ever seen. And since Pahrump is only 3 miles from the California border, we made the slight detour to the state line and I got out and took the above photo (but only after grabbing some soft serve at the cutest little ice cream stand). We ended up staying out later than we intended so had to head straight back to the hotel and get ready for our 7:15 meal at Mon Ami Gabi (in The Paris resort). I've never tried french food before (and I love food so that's pretty amazing) but this is a pretty great place to start. The escargot was phenomenal, the scallops were perfect, the beef wellington was hearty, and the creme brulee was sinful. I had really been looking forward to Misty seeing the Bellagio fountain show but unfortunately the music selection was Faith Hill's 'This Kiss' which made the impressively choreographed waters seem to be line dancing-so dissapointing. After dinner, I went back to the hotel w/ the baby and Jonathan, Misty and Michael headed over to the Gold Coast to catch some bands.







SATURDAY:
After more room service, we spruced up for the car show (Victor wore his new sock monkey shirt and was a big hit) and I dropped off the rental car. The GOld Coast has always been the home of the Shifter's Car Show but this time it was badly cramped since it has gained in popularity over the years and the people were bumper to bumper-heh heh. We scanned the vendors and took a couple of pics but it just got too difficult to navigate so we went for a quick indoor break and made plans to come back later. Unfortunately, the show closed down at four (not what we had expected) and we missed a big chunk of the cars. Grrrr. That night, we ate dinner at Big Al's Oyster Bar and I got to go out w/ our friends while Jonathan stayed w/ the baby. A great band called 'The Two Timin' Three' was playing and it was fun watching them and the jive dancers. I was done by 2:30 though. Late nights are not my thing.




SUNDAY: Sunday is my favorite day. It's Tiki Pool Party day. All the girls put on their retro swimwear and the guys slick back their hair and show off their tattoos. A documentarian was there and he fell in love w/ Victor so I was interviewed by he and his crew for a while. It was wierd and intimidating but it might be cool to see what comes of it. The Orleans pool was a perfect location and the surf music was ideal-and live, as it turns out. A few barefoot couples started dancing by the stage and we got some video of them from up in our room. It was extremely nice. After the party, we dressed up a bit and went back to the Gold Coast for a more shopping and a premiere of a Rockabilly documentary. It was too smoky there for the little one so we went upstairs and watched the jive competition. It was so amazing-one guy actually had TWO girls he was twirling around. I could not believe the talent! And I'm extremely jealous.



MONDAY:

Monday was a quiet day. We all went the strip to get my favorite Cobb Salad (The Caribe Cafe in The Mirage)before heading back to the airport to catch our smooth flight back to Nashville. When we got back to the house, my son had just come down w/ a virus and was covered in a rash from head to toe and throwing up. Sigh. And the beat goes on...

"Vacation, All I Ever Wanted..."

Yes, we have decided to blow our tax refund on two vacations this year. One to Disneyworld in October and this one, to Vegas, in April. The ROckabilly Weekender last year was such a blast, we've decided to make the trip again. The Orleans hotel will be our destination again; we loved it there. We're going to take Victor this time as well, since he'll only be seven months old and not weaned yet. The other boys would love it too but unfortunately, we can't afford the airfare for everyone. I'm so excited to witness the car show again, the jive contest, the pool party, the music...it will be just as great as last year, I'm sure, except this time I won't be sporting a pregnant belly and morning sickness.

The other reason we're definitely making the trip is that we are actually in the planning stages of moving to the area. Boulder City Nevada is the place we are going to check out and we have been checking rental property prices for the past two weeks. IT's a nice area, for sure, but not exactly where we wanted to be-what with the proximity to Las Vegas. We wanted to be a bit farther from there. But because of the great job opportunities in Henderson and Las Vegas, it's a good starting point. We could rent there for a year, during which we could scout around in Arizona and Utah for a more ideal location (St. George Utah seems perfect but the job market is bad). Or, after a year is up, we could decide it just isnt for us and come back to Tennessee. I'm really set on trying it though, because I think it will be a great experience for the kids and a chance to see natural wonders we might otherwise not take the time to visit.

Speaking of travel, I was really torn about the idea of Victor riding in my lap on the plane. I know infants under two don't technically NEED a seat but most websites concerning infant airline safety will tell you that buying an extra seat is preferable due to turbulence. It's no big secret that an infant car seat wouldnt be effective in a crash, but the possibility of injury during the flight would make most parents go ahead and spring for the extra seat. Enter the Baby B'air! (
http://www.babybair.com/). It's a vest that the infant wears which allows you, during flight, to thread your own seatbelt to the back of the infant, thus holding him secure during your trip. According to FAA guidelines, the Baby B'Air is still not approved for use during takeoff and landing, but it has been cleared for use while in flight. So I feel so much better about everything and excited to be taking Victor along on our journey.


We're also really excited to have concrete plans for Disney in October. We had originally decided to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, since the kids would be sure to love it, but since we'll have a stroller and lugging it onto the busses isnt that appealing a thought, we have opted instead for the Beach Club Villas which are attatched to EPCOT and withing walking distance of that park, as well as just a short boat ride from the MGM studios. It is a gorgeous resort, w/ the greatest pool I've ever seen, and though it will probably be a bit more crowded than the AK Lodge, it will definitely be more convenient.

Holiday in Memphis-The Highlights

Memphis ain't all bad. There are definitely nice things about a visit there. Some of my own highlights about last weekend's visit are listed below:

1. Discovering a New 'Shortcut': We had to leave on Saturday morning instead of Friday night, as originally intended, and since we knew holiday traffic would be horrid, we made it a point to drive thru Gallatin and catch 65 instead of driving I40 the whole way. It knocked a good 45 minutes off the drive and that was a big plus. Also, Victor slept almost the entire time. Easy Peasy.

2. Victor in all his 'fatness' meeting friends and family: Mom hasnt seen Victor since he was born so it was fun to watch her face when she saw him again, in all his fifteen pound splendor! I knew she wouldnt want to put him down...so cuddly and smooshy is he!

3.'Tear It Up' and White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha: On a quick little outting Saturday, my husband and I ran accross a great little clothing/accessory store on Cooper beside the Celtic Crossing. It's called Tear It Up and even though the store is the size of a small bedroom, there are some GREAT items in there. I couldnt resist a super-soft T-Rex (the band) Tee for 19.00. Also, lots of nice retro reproduction shoes and dresses in there, ladies! Afterwards, we treated ourselves to the novelty of Starbucks (we don't have any of those around here, guys) and their seasonal White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha which was AMAZING. Starbucks is the one thing that makes me wish I lived in the city...ha!

4.Seeing the new Assembly Hall: No, we didnt get to actually attend the assembly like we planned...sigh. We had to drive in on Sat instead of Friday so that day was gone anyway. And then on Sunday morning we were ten minutes late to the program and there were NO seats! Crazy! And since there was some work being done in the Cafeteria, we couldnt go in there. But we got to see the place anyway, and it is indeed beautiful!

5.Good Food: We have our 'regular' places we like to eat in Memphis but this time, we made two more yummy discoveries. Sunday we ate at the Dixie Cafe for the first time (which we loved...go figure how it's possible I havent' eaten there before) and Sunday night we tried the Blue Fin on Main st. Awesome place...loved the atmosphere, loved the beer, loved the sushi, but most of all loved the...

6.Good Company: So nice to visit w/ old friends...Moose, Monkey, Muffin, all of you guys were a blast! Big brother is always a plus too. I'm so glad we found out about the Karaoke at Alfred's and that practically no one was around to witness our foolishness! You know we have to sing our 'signature song' every time now, don't ya Moose? Oh, and here's the link to the RED lipstick: http://www.besamecosmetics.com/home/?page=home


7.Family : Time spent w/ my parents, niece and nephew, and spiritual family will always be the best part of any little trip. And I enjoyed seeing my brother's new house and forseeing the good times to be had there as well.

We had an easy drive home with almost no traffice, due to the Holiday. It was companionable and smooth. All in all, a lovely little Holiday.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...to DISNEY I shall go!

It occurred to me a few months ago that it has been over three years since I've seen Walt Disney World in all it's surrealistic madness. I was actually pregnant w/ Nathan and it was January of 2004 so I guess you could say I am seriously jonesing for my Magic Kingdom fix! So we are planning a trip for Oct of next year and I am already just giddy with excitement. Most of you are aware of my semi-unhealthy love for Walt and all his kin (http://learnthebigapple.blogspot.com/2006/04/walt-and-me.html). The place is just necessary for my happiness, I think (that's a little exageration there people, don't worry).

Planning a vacation is always half the fun for me. Especially a Disneyworld vacation. So even though some people might find it a bit disturbing that I am already in midst of doing so, 300 days in advance, there it is. We are planning to take all three of our children who will then be ages 8, 4, and 1 yr. I would normally never encourage someone to take a baby to Disney, but I feel like somewhat of a veteran by now and am certain I can handle it just fine. The way I see it, the two older boys will keep each other busy and entertained and since we're going to stay on Disney Property (as always), taking the little one back to the hotel will not be a problem. Also, this will be our last chance to stay in a normal hotel room (one that sleeps four) because after the baby turns two, we won't qualify for those rooms anymore.

Disney Hotels are monstrous works of art, themed to their toes and full of every bit of the charm that resides in the parks. So picking one is also an adventure. Thus far I've been a guest at the Port Orleans French Quarter Hotel (our honeymoon choice in 1995), the Disney Institute Villa Treehouses (in 1996 and these are no longer in existence), The Port Orleans RIverside Resort (2003-a Dixie themed hotel adjoining the French Quarter w/ lush landscaping and rustic furnishings), The Villas at the Wilderness Lodge (2004-mountain themed resort w/ a fabulous lobby and a cozy log-cabin feel to the rooms), and The Boardwalk Villas (2001-New England style resort w/ a real boardwalk and within walking distance to EPCOT). I loved all of them but I wanted to try something different this time. So we're going to try the Animal Kingdom Villas since my sweet sister in law is letting us use her Disney Vacation Club points at a great rate.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas are one of Disney's greatest themed hotels, styled after a rustic retreat on the African Savannah and surrounded by a 'real' wilderness and wild animals. The Lobby is absolutely stunning
as can be seen here, and you can book rooms that overlook the surrounding 'savannah' so that you get to see giraffes and zebras feeding right outside your window. From what I hear, they also have night vision goggles available so that the wildlife can be seen at night when they're at their most active. The pool is designed to look a bit wild, like a natural hot spring of sorts, and the affect is really nice.

I'm looking forward to visiting all my favorite haunts: The World Showcase at EPCOT (especially the Canada and Mexican pavilions), The Harambe Village at The Animal Kindom, Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom, The Tower of Terror at MGM. And also, I'm looking forward to seeing some of the new things that have been added since my last visit: Soarin' at EPCOT, Expedition Everest at the Animal Kingdom, The stunt show at MGM, and Jack Sparrow's likeness in The Pirates of the Carribean. I'll be starting my itinerary soon so that when it's completed, I can send it to my friends who'll be joining us. Then we can figure out what stuff we want to do as a group and what we want to do alone.

Anyhoo, that's enough rambling for now. Barring any unforseen problems, we'll be booking our trip in January. My brother and his kids are probably going to come, as are some dear friends of ours in Louisiana. But hey, why stop there? ALL of you guys should come along!

29 Weeks and the District Convention...

Another great Convention and another month passed.

If you look to the left, you can see an interesting view that we found in the nice little pond across from our convention site. One huge coi fish, lots of smaller gold fish, a bunch of tiny baby ducks, and one mama duck enjoying the leftover lunchables of convention delegates and park patrons alike. I thought it was so odd to see them all so close together like that and seemingly unaware of one another's presence. But I digress.

The convention theme this year was 'Follow the Christ' and I am pleased to say that I got almost everything there was to get out of it. A nice little 'last gift' before I am stuck w/ a nursing infant. Luckily, Victor will be one year old almost by next convention so I shouldnt be too overwhelmed. The circuit assembly in Oct is another story altogether...voivais! Both boys were extremely good and Johnson has taken to looking up all the scriptures and taking notes-without our coaching too much. Nathan draws pictures and looks at his Bible Story book for two minute intervals, climbs on me for two more, before eventually settling down to sleep for long stretches at a time. He loved the baptism and the drama, for the most part, and was very confused (as were many in the audience, I'm sure) by the new 'audio program'. heh heh. During lunch, we enjoyed leisurely strolls across the street to the very nice Huntsville City Park. Yes, it was hot and very humid but the boys didnt care a bit. My favorite talks were the ones dealing w/ Christ's different 'titles' and the Public Address on Saturday. The brother who gave that one was one of those 'gifted' speakers who speaks very deliberately and quietly so that you have to listen very closely to what he says. Extremely effective teacher. He used to be a circuit overseer but goes to a local hall now so I've heard him a few times before. The final talk of the convention was also great...given by a brother from Bethel. We had about 6,000 in attendance ,on average, and 46 were baptized.

We stayed at the Couryard Marriott again and we really like it there, despite the absence of free breakfast. The pool area is very nice and cozy so if you have a 'pool-facing' room, you can watch from your balcony as your brothers and sisters self-conciously tug at their swimming attire. Good stuff. We swam once, Saturday night, but our swimming was cut short when Nathan has an 'accident' in his swimming shorts and I had to leave in embarassment. It rained Friday night, unfortunately. We're gonna try to come in earlier on Thursday next year and leave on Monday so that the kids can take advantage of the hotel amenities a little longer.

Huntsville is my favorite place for Conventions. It's a small city but has lots of convenient eating establishments and nice hotels. It also has a beautiful downtown area that most people overlook. Friday night we went w/ some old friends (12 of them!) to a local Mexican Cantina called "Rosie's". Pretty good food but more 'tex-mex' than the traditional stuff that I'm used to...and yes, I did partake of a Dos Equis amber in spite of my condition...LOL. Couldnt help myself. Saturday we had us some yummy vittles at Chile's w/ a smaller group (just us and a close friend) and had a nice evening at the hotel. It was a relaxing 'vacation' in spite of the dressing up everyday and walking alot.

Other than a few minor ligament pains due to the extra weight, everything is good with the pregnancy and I was pretty comfortable for the duration. We'll see how things work out next year, when we add another youngn' to the mix.

I'm looking forward to all of your own convention stories! Get to bloggin', my friends!