Leaving Las Vegas

We woke up early, before the sun. We had decided to swing through Zion National Park on way to Las Vegas for and early dinner and then home. Cindy was coming home on Sunday and Skye had a girl scout Christmas Ornament -making event she didn't want to miss.

The skies were clear and just incredibly beautiful for viewing the wondrous sights of Zion.




Skye checking out the rocks and waterfalls.



We only hiked to one of Zion's many sights the Weeping Rock. I really would have liked to stay for a few days but such was not our schedule.

Crazy Vegas

So after a couple of nights of roughing it and getting in tune with nature what better way to acclimate back into the "civilized" world than heading to down town Las Vegas and the "Fremont Street experience".

We had a great Sushi dinner at MGM Grand and checked out the Strip and the casinos now in full splendor and holiday Saturday night crowds.

And then down to Fremont Street.

Being in Las Vegas, completely stone-sober, after camping with my 10 year old daughter on a Saturday night, well let's just say it was a new eye-opening experience for me.




Surrealism at its realistic best. Like a scene out of Blade Runner.

The light show was pretty spectacular, and most important of all Skye loved it.





































Skye was sad to go so soon.





Last looks on the Strip

The parking structure was madness. Some guy offered me $20 for my free parking space. I didn't want to be bothered and felt a little funny taking money for a public spot and helping this guy cut in line, but when he added "This is Vegas, man" I guided him to our spot. When I got our car and realized that I had parked illegally.(There was a "parking ticket" on my window. It as from the casino not the city, so more of a warning than anything else)

I grabbed the ticket, rolled out of the space, allowing the guy to get it before anyone else could and took his money, his voice echoing in my mind, "This is Vegas, man" as I drove away.




We got home around 1:30 am. Exhausted but having had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. And we still had Sunday as well.

Thanksgiving Eve

Where to begin? Too much to say, too much to do, too many thoughts. Cindy flew off today, a family matter. Skye and I decided earlier today that we would make an adventure of this extended weekend. So in the next several hours we will be heading out of LA towards Bryce National Park in Utah. I'm gonna try to time it so that we can have an early breakfast in Vegas before the Thanksgiving gorge gets started and so that we can get to the park by noon or earlier. It's getting late and I have not fully packed. So, there you are short and sweet. Much to follow I'm sure.

Lakers Live

For whatever reason, I have not attended many live events, such as concerts or ballgames, etc. I love 'em, just haven't had or made the time and opportunities. So in spite of the fact that I am a die-hard Lakers fan since watching Magic as a kid growing up, I have only made it to one Laker game. And in that game, Kobe got injured in the first quarter and the Lakers got stomped.

Now thanks to dear friend Charles, I can now say that I've been to two Lakers games and this time it was the Lakers doing the stomping.

In truth, it was a rather lackluster game but it was a win and I saw it was another die-hard Lakers fan who understands basketball. So it was absolutely fantastic.




Add to that we took the Metro to the game, going Green to see the Purple and Gold.

That was Tuesday, the Lakers also took down Phoenix last night, putting them atop the league at 9-1.



Wow this blog is becoming a sports blog, never imagined that.

So in that vein, big shout out and reminder Lance Armstrong is racing in the Tour de France again this year. Maybe I'll make it to France to see it live.

Week in review- A mixed bag

Burn Baby Burn

I'll start with Sunday morning in this week's retrospective, since I woke up this morning to ash floating down around me and covering our cars.




Yesterday one couldn't see Downtown from our house.




The city was in sight this morning, albeit in a smoke-filled Armageddon-like haze.




The morning barely managed to burn through the clouds of smoke. After watching the news for an hour, flipping through channels, we still had only an inkling of where the fires actually were. I found this very informative map on-line. Click to go and see our little ring of fire.




I'm still playing around with the underwater feature on my camera. Meanwhile, we had an invader raid the pond a couple of weeks back. All the fish were fine but whatever it was completely destroyed the water lily's and ate all of the snails. It must have been a French opossum with a midnight craving for escargot.




Speaking of exoskeleton deaths, Alvin passed the other day. She is already missed. Cindy and Skye had a nice ceremony for her. I was working on a pilot and couldn't make it to the service.

We have been meaning to have a garage sale for a while now. I don't why, we both abhor them. They are so much more trouble than they are worth, at least for us. If we enjoyed them, it might be a different matter but......




One of the lamest garage sales I've ever been involved with. If it weren't for the arrival of garage sale wizard, Kip Haynes who managed to sell our one big ticket item to one of the two customers who showed up we would have netted less than $20.




Meanwhile when cleaning for a small pizza party on Sunday, (as if it weren't already smoky enough) we discovered to our horror and humor, a definite sign of being too busy and crazed, that the cans for the beer can chickens from the China Olympic's party were still sitting on the grill. Only to realize that they actually predate that party, going back to the Fourth of July. Oh my, oh my....






The garden is doing well but is in much need of weeding and maintenance.

Let's see, Cindy and I are both working on the remake of Fame.

I, we all started running last weekend, Skye and Cindy posting two 4 mile workouts up in the Kenneth Hahn back country, only to be smoked out this weekend.

The Lakers posted there first loss, happening unfortunately the same evening as my pre-garage sale meltdown. They still hold the best record in the NBA, to the point that Shaq is now expressing an interest in returning blaming his and Kobe's difficulties on coach Jackson. Oh Shaq, retire already with your dignity still some what in tact.

Like I said a mixed bag.

Laker's undefeated

The Lakers are one of two teams that remain undefeated. And they are doing it in a convincing manner, beating their opponents by an average of 22 points. Basketball, particularly Lakers basketball is pretty much my only mainstream sports obsession. Tonight they went up against the Houston Rockets and after going into the half leading by a mere 2 points they dominated and ended up winning by 29 points. They are playing great defense and playing like a team. GO LAKERS!!!!!!

Cindy's and Skye's first 5k, Laker's continue to win and oh yeah, Obama WINS!!!!!!

It's been a pretty great week. The Laker's continue to win(4-0), Cindy and Skye ran in their first 5k and Obama won!!!!!!!

Cindy and I are working together on the remake of Fame!



Skye finishing her first 5k.



The family that runs together, um, um, ........




New and improved rodeo clown make-up.

Sorry to not be more interesting or coherent or .... but trying to dash this off, Friday early eve, end of workday/week. So gotta go.

Yay, Laker's and
even bigger hurrah to Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Lakers Go

The NBA season began last Tuesday, October 28. And the Laker's started things off right by beating Portland 95-76 and continued with destroying our crosstown rivals the Clippers by39 points, a final score of 117-79. I now it's a long ways until the Play-offs and Finals but this is a great start. Tonight they play their first away game, so we'll see if they can keep up the onslaught.

Go Lakers!!!!!!!!!!!