Me too Weary Traveler

Thursday morning the boys decide to do the Circus Crcus Adventuredome for the "day". I drive them down there (point of reference...we are staying at Excalibur) at about 10:00 and Sue agrees to meet me there for gambling in about an hour. I am gambling til about 11ish when Sue calls and say she decided not to take a taxi but to drive down herself and will be there shortly. No worries, I have found my new favorite machine (Keeping Up With the Jones) and can sit there all day. 11:30 she calls back and says she is in bumper to bumper trafic around the Mirage and they are diverting traffic and that the strip is closed. I look out the window and see some police activity, I think maybe there is an accident. Sue drives (slowly) up to Paradise and then over to Circus Circus Drive. She calls me and between myself and a security guard we get her directed through and into the valet parking at 12:15. It has taken her over an hour to drive down the strip on a Thursday morning. An hour before she left it took me exactly 6 minutes!

The security guard at Circus Circus says he doesn't know what the police activity is but that the strip is closed from the Stardust to the Circus. I had had enough of Circus Circus and suggested we walk over to Slots O' Fun next door. They have a side entrance connection so that was no problem. Believe it or not they have no Penny slots! We decided to leave immediately and headed to the front to go next door to Westwartd Ho. We had had breakfast there on Tuesday and I remembered seeing some pennies that looked like fun. Lo and behold we couldn't get there from here because the strip is locked down. It's easy, a man in a suit with an ear piece says. Just go up the alley to Industrial Road and then next door to Westward Ho. Sue says to the nice man "Is that gonna be a 10 mile walk?" "No", he chuckles, "Not at all". So we are troopers and not ones to shy away from a little walking and we head on out. Did I mention the horrible sunburn I got the day before at the pool, or the flip flops I was wearing, black of course to match the black capris? We are walking, and walking, by the way it is approximately 105 degrees at this point of the day. We take the shaded route through the parking garage.

When we finally reach Industrial Road (everything looks so close together in Vegas), we go next door and see a sign the says westward HO (no that's not a typo), thinking we hit the day's jackpot we go in. Sue says, "Adrienne, Andy and I come to the Westward Ho for breakfast evertime we come to Vegas, this doesn't look familiar." "Well, maybe you just never came to this part of the casino." I am just enjoying the air conditioning and the free soda. In the meantime I have called mom and told her to check out CNN for me to see if they say anything, we have heard various conversations to the effect of suspicious packages found in or around the Riviera.

Digression- Cell phones are a wonderful thing, we wanted to take the boys to Sams Town the night before for bowling and I called mom to verify my directions. Sams Town didnt have open bowling so I called mom to get directions to Gold Coast. Mom's are a pretty wonderful thing!

Back to the westward HO...we notice when trying to cash out that the machine is a hand pay...EEWW...so we venture further. When we notice there is no further that this little casino we wandered into is just a off shoot of the gas station. We go out the back door and are confronted with the back of the Westward Ho motel. Bigger than it looks, but just as dumpy. Although as we were walking through it and noticing the hourly, daily, weekly and monthly residents, we did see 3 very clean pools and two hot tubs. To get to the Casino we had to walk all the way back up to the strip. Finally we arive, ahhhhhh air conditioning and look there's that nice lady with the free diet cokes. We sit down and play some penny Match Game (which was lucky for me the day before at Harrahs). I run through my $5 pretty quickly but Susan is hitting bonuses and keeps on playing. I go to do some reconassaince and check out the rest of the machines. Not much! Sue decides to quit while she's ahead and pushes the cash out button. What do you think happened? "Hand Pay Required. Please Wait For Attendant." AARRGGHH! In very small letters it says all payouts by attendants. If we hadn't been delirious by the heat we would have noticed. Oh well, let's look around. There was a nickel machine that we decided to play, I don't even remember what it was. When Sue cashed out (my money was eaten by the mchine) SURPRISE nickels came flying out of the bottom. What the hell are we supposed to do with those?!??!?!

At this point the boys called and they were ready to leave. We decide to call a cab instead of hoofing it. We explain to the boys that it will be a while before we get there and explain the circumstances. After waiting 30 minutes for the cab we decide to just suck it up and walk back. By the time we get the boys, get out to the valet, drive up to Industrial Road (I clocke dit on my speedometer, it is oer a mile) and over to Tropicana Ave. (yes, mom Industrial goes through on that side of the freeway) and into our hotel room, it is now almost 3pm!

After a relaxing dinner at the hotel, Sue and I remember that we haven't gone yet to the M and M store and we are leaving the next day. So we walk over there. That is over the walkway to New York, and over the walkway to MGM. ( Did you catch the part of me going OVER the walkways?!?!) And then down the broken escalator and down the two blocks (Vegas blocks) to the store. Oh yeah, I haven't changed my shoes yet. I know! We do our shopping with a first stop at the soda fountain a the Coca COla store and get me a big ass diet coke! We finish our shopping and start to head outside...CRACK...big thunder and lightening and HUGE rain drops! It is 110 degrees and the end of July in the desert! Sue goes back in to the Coke store and buys an umbrella. I think, Im not a wuss I don't mind getting wet. We leave. I make it the first block to the Grand Canyon store and I realize that big raindrops hurt on a sunburn. I duck in and buy an umbrella also. The sidewalks are so slippery I have now discarded my shoes and am walking barefoot back the way we came.

What a way to end a great trip. More about the Jones later.

The reason for coming to Vegas

Those who love me can answer that question without reading further.

Is it......

Putting $5 into a penny machine and taking $40 out?

Free Diet Cokes anytime I want one?

112 degrees without the humidity that been so present in LA lately?

Sitting out and in the pool?

Relaxing?

Watching Susan and Andy win at the Blackjack tables?

Seeing Adam have so much fun he can barely stop smiling?

Or is it what happened last night?

Adam and I went out to dinner and he said to me (echoing my own feelings)...this is the reason to come to Vegas.




LONG JOHN SILVERS!

Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight

Midnight...Adam knocks on my bedroom door and says there is a fight out front. I immediately get up and he says mom you need to call 911 it's huge. I dial the phone and he says there's about 20 guys out in front of the boy scout house and they are brawling. Melody gets up - from her new room in the very back of the house she heard this as well- and says ther's more like 50. I am talking to the 911 operator who keeps repeatedly asking if there are any weapons involved. I tell him not that we can see from the window and we sure as hell aren't going outside to check. Meanwhile the crowd is growing by the second. Within minutes we see the flash of light overhead that signals the helicopter has arrived and sirens come blaring down our street. Adam has by now graciously handed me a towel since I jumped out of bed with no pants on. There's a picture for all of you! When the brawlers see the police start to arrive they turn the corner and start heading down Glenwood towards our old apartment (for a reference point). This disappoints the kids because now all the action is happening out of their line of vision. The 911 operator tells me to hang up and flag down an officer to talk to them. Mel was amazed that I would go outside to flag one down. Alas they were to busy to notice me. It took a good half an hour to wrangle everyone and disperse the crowd. Kids that were parked in front of our house leave and Adam suggests I move my car into the driveway since Kathy isn't home tonight. I don't want to go out there when the brawlers are still hanging around so I say no nothing else is gonna happen tonight, it will be fine. I don't know what the outcome of everything but the police left at close to 1am. BTW Marisa and Link are sound asleep through all of this. Of course she slept through a few years back when a car ran into the house next door. Anyways back to the story. I had finished my book earlier when I first fell asleep, and had nothing to put me back to sleep, so I lay awake in bed watching tv (I lter find out that Adam is also awake and watching tv in his room). At 2am I hear a crash and a squeal of tires. Of course my first thought is Oh shit! My car! I come running out, (this time I put pants on) and Adam is running out side as I again dial the Glendale Police Department. We look out the window and one car has already left and the other is turning around and speeding up the street after it. Adam talks to the neighbors and finds out what kinds of cars and suddenly on of them returns. A very nice, very new white Mustang. I couldn't see any damage from my viewpoint but there was alot of debris in the street. 2 police cars arrive and start doing whatever it is they do. Nothing happens in GLendale without 2 police cars. Anytime the police arrive somewhere they come in pairs and since they usually drive alone, there are 2 cars to make it look like it is a big deal. Now it is 2:30 and Adam and I are wide awake. Maybe we should leave for Vegas now instead of Monday!

The Bad Bad Eye Doctors Machine

This is the time of year when we all get our annual eye exams. Adam has better than perfect vision although he has a slight astigmatism in his left eye. Marisa gets new frames and lenses this year. Both of them have no problem with any part of the eye doctor visit. Myself on the other hand am a WUSS! I have a hard (ok, very hard) time with the glaucoma test. You know the one. WHere they shoot a puff of air into your eyeball. I can not for the life of me keep my eye open or from watering to much. It takes at least 3-4 tries to get it done. I used to sign a waiver to not have to do it. But with the probability of diabetes in my future (so far so good) and the history of our family, I figure I need to buck up and just do it. THe good news is my prescription hasnt changed so I can get prescription sunglasses put into old frames since I am only eligible for lenses this year.

What's next?

About 4-5 years ago, I developed a severe allergy to pollen. The stronger the smell of the flowers the more stuffed my nose became. Marisa has always had allergies and was taking Claritin regularly. So I realized that if a special occasion was coming at work I would take a Claritin that day, birthday, Secretaries Day were sure to bring flowers. I used to love Magnolia trees, and the Cherry blossoms in VA. and most of all, fresh cut grass. But I have resigned myself to the fact that I just have to avoid them as best as possible. GOd forbid a Lily of any sort gets within 10 yards of me. While in Mich. last year, I noticed smoke was affecting me more and more. When we had some fires out here in Palmdale last summer, I noticed some irritation, but when I hit the casinos with mom, that proved that I should definatley add smoke to my list. Mom and I went to Vegas in January for a Bingo tournament and I made sure to bring my Claritin along. I dislike taking it everyday because it really dries me up and that gets to be uncomfortable as well. Now I am home from work today because of a splitting headache that has lasted more than 24 hours. I am afraid it may be from all the dust that I am stirring up. I uncovered some items over the last few days that were unreadable due to the dust layers. I just threw them away without even trying to figure out what they were. I went to the doctor and he wants to poke a bunch of holes in me and test different things. Personaly I think I have figured out on my own what I am allergic to and don't need a bunch of holes to affirm them. He could give me stronger medicine, but that would dry me up as well if not worse and then where would I be. Why did I waste the $15 on a doctor visit?

As for Harry Potter, yes it is my book, and I will own up to it proudly. If you would open your minds you would find that the writing is extraordinary. It is not the romance rubbish that is usually read. It draws pictures in your mind and it is not as if you are reading it but watching it happen. Don't knock it till you try it!

Monday, Adam and I leave for Vegas with the Brunsons. Monday night at Buffalo Bills and Tuesday through Thursday night at Excalibur. I am taking my laptop along. Sue and Andy are boarding their dog Kirby for the first time ever. Usually her dad takes care of the dog, but he is getting on in years and so is the dog. The boarders is called Paradise Ranch (paradiseranch.net) and they have web cams. So they can check up on Kirby from my room anytime they want.

If I win big I will blog, but otherwise don't look for anything from me for a while.

Making a mountain into a molehill

The pile of stuff (think George Carlin) at my new office is slowly receding. The previous was in today and made quite a bit of progress. However she thinks it may take until next week (!) to get it all done. Not that any of it is actually leaving the office it is just being piled up in other spaces of the office because she ahs no room at home right now. There is a HUGE stack of "stuff" sitting in front of cabinets I need to get to. ANd another even huger pile in the Principal's office. Breathe in breathe out! Except it smells like an old folks home whenever I open a drawer or cabinet!

On a lighter note, BB6 started today. Because I have nothing else to do with my life but be voyueristic into other peoples lives. One of the commercials was an ad for AR8 looking for teams. Anyone? The new BB house is cool, the HOH room is outstanding with it's own bathroom and all. ALready some people stick our to me. I like Kaysar and don't like Eric. We have been trying to figure out the "partners". Anyone have a guess? ANyone else watching? The next episode is Tuesday at 8 or 9. Erika feel free to enter links anywhere you like on here.

First day of School

Well not the kids, Mine! Yesterday was my first official day at Mann. Hilma spent the majority of the day cleaning her desk with Lysol wipes. Everyone who has the slightest inkling of me, knows I am not by any means a clean freak. Some may even call me a dirt freak. But this place goes beyond anyones scope of reality. I wish I had taken pictures to show you. But I thought it would be rude to take pictures of the crime scene before the CSI guys come in to clean it up. The previous secretary was still there even though her last day was Thursday. Her desk was still piled high with crap like the news stories of the old ladies with a hundred cats and the piles of newspapers and everything everywhere. There is important papers mixed in with scraps of paper (could be important, who can tell) mixed in with FOOD, on top of keys, on top of plants and pictures taped to every open wooden space. Pictures of kids of people who left the school more than 10 years ago! Probably pictures of babies that have now graduated college! I started the day in a cute new dress, wanting to make a good impression. As my hand was on the doorknob to leave the house, I broke into reality and ran back to my room to change into jeans and a tshirt. Good thing. I spent the day cleaning out files of kids moving to Middle school. I think I will throw the shirt away. My initial plan w2as to go in everyday this long weekend to work and get everything in order. Well, that plan was shot to hell, when Joy (the previous) didnt finish ANYTHING off her desk (my desk), and left vowing to come in this weekend. AARRGGHH! SHe is not open to assistance. So now I have resigned myself to not going in. I will go on Monday to see what if any progress is made. If it is clean WHOO HOO! If not, on Tuesday, I will bring my laptop and set up shop at another desk, and claim it for my own.

In other news, Marisa is doing great. She has a tummy now. She has finally decided that her previous skin tight before she was pregnant jeans don't actually fit anymore and is getting more comfortable in maternity clothes. She is loved dearly at the daycare. But she is an Amazon who is helping to organize and bring fresh ideas, so why wouldn't she be.

Adam got his report card yesterday. It was better than I had hoped, so I can start breathing again and not feel guilty about not making him go to summer school. He and Michael got season passes to Raging Waters water park from Sue and Andy and they each got a set of golf clubs from their respective parents for their birthdays and have been spending time at both places. He has truly come to love golfing and goes at least once a week to the public (read cheap) course. Unfortunately there have been news stories recently of that course being "developed". Into what yet they haven't decided. Houses, condos, or retail.