Vegas- part 2

Since I have been home for 3 weeks, I figured it was time to share more about my adventures in Vegas.

It certainly was an adventure spending Christmas away from family and with no snow. And it was my very first Christmas not in Canada. But it sure was nice spending it with Alisa. We did what we wanted, when we wanted. It was perfect. Here is Alisa's cute tree surrounded by all our gifts waiting to be opened.

And here is cute little Buddy enjoying his new friend. I want a dog. Real badly.

One adventure happened when I was walking cute little Buddy. I saw a card on the ground- which at first I thought was a credit card but when I picked it up I discovered it was a gift card. I thought for sure there was nothing on it but it wouldn't hurt to check. My investigation proved there was $7.86 remaining. Then I discovered something else. It is from Dr. Phil. And his wife Robin. It started with $500 on it. And my holiday would have been greater if I would have found it then! But I do appreciate the $7.86 towards one of my Target purchases. Thanks Dr. Phil. And thanks to the person you gave it to that dropped it on the ground/tried to throw it away but missed the garbage can.





We decided to ring in the new year in San Diego. So we drove past the tallest thermometer in the world-which was kind of cool except I think it is kind of lame you can't see the temperature when you are next to it.

After a delightful dinner in Old Town San Diego we went to some of the shops where we saw a skateboarding chicken.

But since it was New Year's Eve all the shops were closing early. And we couldn't decide what to do for the rest of the evening- but we did agree we wanted to see the temple. I would have preferred to see the inside of it but settled for the beautiful outside.

That was the extent of our evening's events. Sad but true. We were asleep by 11pm. But that meant we could wake up "early" and head to the beach. Which was beautiful. A little breezy. But sunny and warm. Unless you are from Vegas. Then you think it is freezing. And you bundle up like this-

I don't get it. I couldn't handle the pansy Vegasites complaining about being cold so I went for a walk to discover the beach. It was delightful. I wish I was still there.

We headed back to Vegas that afternoon to continue the adventures there.

My friend had to go back to work so that meant Buddy and I got to spend the daytime together- alone. I was happy about it. He- wasn't so much apparently. This is what I found when I came down the stairs one morning.

He sure is cute- even though he apparently wasn't happy with what he saw.

I spent 3 weeks in Vegas and only went to the strip once. And it was to see-
by Cirque d'Soleil. It was fun. Odd. But fun. The usher who sat us said there was no photography allowed. I assumed that meant of the stage and the performance. But when we tried to take a self-photo of us well before the show started and she yelled at me to put it away- I knew she meant at all. She said they even confiscate cameras. Wow. If she really wants a picture of me and the 6 chins that came out for that photo, be my guest.
So we took one outside- after the show. I look a little freaky. But I had just watched some freaky stuff so it is to be expected.
And to end my adventures- a picture of how they like to hide their cell towers in Vegas. I think it is hilarious. But not as hilarious when they disguise it as a pine tree... because that blends in so well in the middle of the desert.

oh Vegas- how I miss thee. Especially when I returned home to a 45 degree Celsius (85 Fahrenheit) drop in temperatures.

Walking the Streets of Vegas

Other than shopping and watching movies (which I have done a bit of thus far), the other thing I get to do plenty of is walking this guy...He sure is cute. Until he has to stop at every bush to check it out and every other bush gets this done to it:

But that isn't the only thing I get to see while out on our walks.

We see palm trees. I LOVE palm trees. One day I would like to live somewhere with a palm tree in my yard. Well I guess I did live in Vegas but only for 4 months so that doesn't count.

We see tons of garbage. Which makes me ill since at least half of it could be recycled.

And then there are the weird street names. How many of you can say you've stood on the corner of Tantalizing and Fascinating? The worst I have seen yet- Tender Tassels. Yep. That's a real street name. But it sounds more like a stripper name. or a disease. "My tender tassels have been acting up again." Yikes. If you are not looking up at the street names, you will see these on the sidewalk. Every couple feet. I don't know if this is a Vegas thing or a this neighborhood thing. Either way it is weird. And I don't like it. I prefer my sidewalks to be pure sidewalks.

And rows of empty, never lived in houses. That are apparently being sold for $50,000.

Anyone want to go in with me to purchase a vacation home? I am sure it will be worth at least triple that in a few years.

But the best thing is being able to go on a walk wearing these- capris AND flip-flops.

It is even more exciting since the place I escaped from looked like this when I left :

and it was a freezing -40. (not to be confused with a balmy -40).

The best thing about our walk this morning was finding a coupon on the ground for $10 off a $20 purchase at Kohl's. Hello. Gotta go.

The Twilight Years

I thought this was VERY funny.

Enjoy!

Twilight Years from

Okay. Okay.

I have been scolded by my mother (who apparently has nothing to do in the Philippines but read my blog) and my daughter about needing to blog more.

So here I am.

28,000 feet in the air to be exact. I am currently flying to Vegas for Christmas. Why Vegas you ask? Because nothing says Christmas like watching people drink away their brain cells and gamble away their earnings.

But that is about all you are going to get from me today... since my battery is going to die. And we are beginning our decent.

I will be back. Soon. I promise.

Seriously??!?

My Mom and Dad's birthdays are exactly 2 weeks apart.

When I was at the post office mailing my Dad's birthday card, I thought I would be smart and buy a stamp for my Mom's card too.

A week and a half before my Mom's birthday (31 days ago) I dropped her card in a mail box. Two days later, I found the stamp I had bought for her card. Oops. So I waited for it to be returned. And waited. And waited.

I thought maybe one of the blessings of having your parents serve a mission was free postage- so I told my Mom to watch out for it.

This morning, I checked the mail and there is was.

Seriously? It took 31 days for them to realize there was no stamp and return it to me.

I think I could have walked it to the Philippines faster than that.

So Mom- now it is really on it's way. Hopefully it will get to you before your NEXT birthday.

The Human Pin Cushion

The other day I went to get a blood test. And this is what happened...

right arm: left arm:

yup. I got poked 4 times. 4 times!!
And only one of them worked. My veins have become hard to find lately. Apparently VERY hard to find.

The girl poked me once and it didn't work. So she went to get someone else.

Who tried. And holy schmolies did it hurt. Bad.
Then she tried again.

Apparently they are only supposed to try twice.
But as she told the first girl "rules are meant to be broken". Interesting.

She said I might have to come back another day. Which I really did not want to do.
She decided to try one more time. And luckily it worked.


Hopefully I won't have to get another blood test for a VERY long time.

I should post a picture of the 2 beautiful bruises that have appeared.

But I will spare you.

A Word to the Wise

Whatever you do- DO NOT go see the movie Couples Retreat.

It is NOT funny. (I might have laughed 3 times. maybe.)

It is VERY inappropriate. And dumb.

The only good thing about it was I didn't have to pay since I went as a mystery shopper.
More about that later.

Coincidence?

It was an interesting week this past week. Monday morning my phone rings at 7:30. It was the substitute system calling with a job. It was for a kindergarten class at the school one of my nieces goes to... and she just happens to be in kindergarten. So I call my sister to see if it was for her teacher. It is. Crazy. I showered, got ready and drove there in time for 8:10. Yikes. I walk into the classroom and discover the teacher's aid is a girl from my ward. Crazy. It turned out that the teacher has a flu and as a precaution she is required to stay home for a week. So I spent a week in kindergarten and LOVED it. They sure are cute and fun.

What are the chances that I got that phone call Monday morning- to be my niece's teacher and with the girl from my ward?? Coincidence? or destiny? ha ha.



Last weekend I was reminded of another crazy happening. 3 years ago my friend really wanted to go camping in Delaware for her birthday. So 4 girls headed out for the adventure Friday night. Saturday we hung out around Cape May before heading back to Virginia. It was the Relief Society broadcast that night so we found a stake center that was on our way home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. We got there right when it was starting and found seats on the front row. As soon as it ended, my friend and I went to the washroom. While I was washing my hands I hear "Shelley?" I turn around and there was a lady from my home stake. She was visiting her parents in New Jersey. CRAZY. What are the chances that we would stop at that stake center? And both be in the bathroom at the same time?


It really is a small world after all.

What's a post without a picture. So here are the 3 girls flying a kite on the beach at Cape May.