Vegasjuhl

Our other home, away from home

2012-01-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

Monday, we were up and out well before the sun. Even when we took off at 6 o'clock the neon beamed from the darkness below. The flight was full, but we still managed to get seats in the exit row. Frank appreciated the extra leg room. We touched down in San Francisco at 7:30 and we hit the ground running. We hopped on BART, bought our three-day Muni pass, and jumped on the cable car. There's no line that early so we were quickly aboard and on our way to the Wharf. The rain had lightened up enough we didn't bother with umbrellas.

This trip we were booked at the Sheraton, I got a great deal on Hotwire for $87/night. We didn't think there'd be a room ready, but we checked anyway, and lucky for us, we were in our room minutes before 9 o'clock. I was pleased to find a king-sized bed to boot. The balcony was a surprise, but we never used it, the view was of a/c units.

We dropped off our bags, and headed down to the Ferry Building. We grabbed all of our goodies for our usual picnic. We stuffed ourselves silly and crashed.

It was chilly and damp since the rain had just cleared. We declared it perfect Irish Coffee weather. We headed over to Buena Vista.

Only I'm a poor excuse for an Irish girl. There was far too much whiskey for me. Frank had to finish mine. We left and I was dying of thirst. We grabbed a water at Ghiradelli. Who goes there for water? Yes, I do. We hopped a bus to the Tenderloin for banh mi at Saigon Sandwich. We had Chicken and Roast Pork. I can't decide which I like better.

We found our way back to the Wharf, we went to Pier 39 to see the sea lions... something so touristy, but we've never stopped to see.

After the sunset, we found Beer 39. Just what we were after, we bellied up to the bar and sampled them all. I was a big fan of 'Back in Black', Firestone Pale and Hemp beer. Frank found a couple he really enjoyed too. Best part was they were all new to us. We worked up a hunger from all that heavy lifting, well, we more or less couldn't wait to sink our teeth into crab so the Crabhouse was our next stop.

We shared Crab Chowder and a whole crab. Yummy!

Later, we went to Aux Delices for another Vietnamese fix. Frank had his first taste of pho tai. It was ok, but what I get from Da Lat at home is better. We also ordered Imperial rolls and bun thit nuong which was a first for me. I will certainly be having it again.

We walked off eats after taking the bus to North Beach, we walked around there and then through the financial district and up embarcadero. We called it a night soon after.

Photo a Day: Week 3

2012-01-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

January 15, 2012 ~ Like kids in a candy store, choosing a 6-pack at Total Wine.

January 16, 2012 ~ Neon makes me smile

January 17, 2012 ~ We took the red pill for this election year, it was time to see how far the rabbit hole goes at the CCRP meeting.

January 18, 2012 ~ All hail the home keg.

January 19, 2012 ~ A beautiful sunset makes a trip to Walmart more bearable.

January 20, 2012 ~ Or are you?

January 21, 2012 ~ Worst part of living in Vegas? Wind.
I'll take it over snow any day.

Heart Attack Grill

2012-01-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

Someone call a medic! Because you might just need one at Heart Attack Grill. Sure, the place is gimmicky and you need a sense of humor to enjoy the experience. But you'll never leave hungry and I bet you'll find a pretty tasty burger and fries. I did.

Frank is taking part in a weightloss challenge at work. A few co-workers decided Heart Attack Grill was a good choice for extreme gluttony. They set a date to bulk up before weigh-in (it's a strategy that all the teams use to enhance the most weight lost). My brother and I tagged along thinking it would likely be a one time thing.

We didn't realize it, but the restaurant is cash only, they have ATM's with a small 75 cent fee. Which was too much for us, so we walked over to 7-11 (free for us). Back at the Heart Attack Grill we met Frank's co-workers, and requested a table for six. Before you're seated you must be prepped with a hospital gown. They have a greater size selection than actual hospitals.

The moment I sat, I was struck with the notion that diet coke or iced tea would not be an option. It was true, choices are limited to butterfat shakes, bottled coke, beer or bottle water. We were told the only reason water is offered is because of the butterfat shakes. One chocolate shake was ordered - I hear there is a full stick of butter in each one, I'm unsure if that includes the pat of butter served on top - and he later had a coke, but it was waters for the rest of us.

Orders are taken via iPhone. Our group ordered three triple bypasses with bacon, and three single bypasses two with bacon and one without. I guess you could say I tried to keep it light. Flatliner fries were also shared.

While we waited for our meaty meals, our nurse offered to issue a pain treatment. Three of the guys partook. Paddled spankings were doled out. It's like going to the hofbrauhaus, just without the jager. It set off a trend and soon other diners were waiting for their turn.

Soon after our meatnormous burgers were served.

Yes, that's three patties and 15 slices of bacon with cheese, grilled onions and tomato.

My burger looks petite in comparison but it would satisfy most appetites just fine. The fries are fried in lard and the flavor brought me back to my childhood.

The burgers and fries exceeded my expectations. It's not the best burger ever, but it's pretty darn tasty, especially considering these are well done burgers. It would be nice if you had input on the temperature. Our nurse had attitude - as she should, but she was also attentive. Videos and great tunes from the 70's, 80's and 90's kept us entertained.

All, but one was part of the clean plate club. We paid our share for services rendered and each made it out alive.

Photo a Day: Week 2

2012-01-15T10:26:00.000-08:00

January 8, 2012 ~ A long soak is a great way to start any day.

January 9, 2012 ~ 8-track had no idea what was to come. One day we'll say the same about USB.

January 10, 2012 ~ I'm not sure that anywhere has colder beer than PT's pub.

January 11, 2012 ~ No peanut butter jelly time, without jelly :(

January 12, 2012 ~ Allergies are creeping up, must keep up on my shots.

January 13, 2012 ~ Grounded! But I wanna go out and play.

January 14, 2012 ~ S'mores in the toaster oven. It's what's for snack.

The Tasty Nook

2012-01-12T12:45:00.000-08:00

Not far from the strip, there are a few eateries in two small adjacent strip malls dishing out big flavor. Raku, Monta and Big Wong are all tucked into this nook off Spring Mountain before Decatur. All three have garnered much attention, as usual it is my quest to try them all to see how they fare. Raku is a great treat, especially when dining with an adventurous group. I have not yet gotten to Monta, but the latest I tried was Big Wong.

The majority of the menu is $5, yep that's right! You'll find meat and veggies paired with noodle and rice dishes. Make your selections and wait for the food to roll out of semi-open kitchen.

We started with Wonton Soup, it was a bit bland, but sriracha helped kick it up.

Salt & pepper chicken wings came highly recommended so Frank opted for those. They did not disappoint.

I had the chicken curry with roti pancakes. I dug in before getting a photo, so note that your bowl will be brimming with succulent chicken and earthy potatoes and there is a side of well executed roti. Though, I think I'd prefer the chicken curry over rice (which is also on the menu).

All in all it's cheap & tasty! And you get service with a smile. We came for dinner, but I think this would be a great lunch spot.

stay·ca·tion

2012-01-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

[stey-key-shuhn]
noun
a vacation spent at home or near home, doing enjoyable activities or visiting local attractions.

M Resort sent us a postcard last month inviting us for a free night's stay. We booked hurriedly, before they had a chance to see there was some sort of mistake. We were able to reserve a Saturday night stay, too. How bizarre? But in a good way.

Saturday we checked into mountain view room on the twelve floor, the strip was booked. No complaints here. We spent much of the day in bed, only leaving for dinner at Marinelli's, beers at 32 degrees and a bit of gambling in the casino. Frank had some luck at blackjack. I chased a royal, but should've stuck to keno. All in all, we had a great time for very little coin. A staycation is always a nice way to recharge the batteries. I'd definitely return to M Resort.

Deck of cards were a small token of thanks for staying. I thought it was a nice touch.

TV in the mirror. Neat, but extremely loud for neighbors. Ours had his on and it was so loud and clear, it was like it was ours was on.

I love when they put a seat in the shower. Makes shaving legs so much easier.

The tub has a clear view outside. There is a shade if you want privacy.

The view. The road there is Las Vegas Blvd., kind of hard to believe.

In addition to our free night, we were given a complimentary bottle of wine.

Yeah, they wooed us.

Photo a Day: Week 1

2012-01-08T16:01:00.000-08:00

January 1, 2012 ~ Feeding Koi at Colorado Belle, Laughlin.

January 2, 2012 ~ Warmth & sunshine... bliss.

January 3, 2012 ~ Overslept for the first day of work in the New Year.

January 4, 2012 ~ Loving these winter temperatures.

January 5, 2012 ~ Worked late and still left with one messy desk.

January 6, 2012 ~ Haven't shopped since Christmas, it's probably time.

January 7, 2012 ~ Staycations mean never having to leave the bed.

Kicking Off 2012 Travels

2012-01-05T08:00:00.001-08:00

We wasted no time getting our 2012 travels started. New Year's Day we called Colorado Belle to reserve a comped night. Originally, we were told it was a restricted date and they could not comp the night But persistence pays, we tried again a couple hours later and voila we were good to go.

My mom and Mike came along, we quickly packed an overnight bag and we were on our way. First stop was El Palacio in Bullhead City for dinner. Muy Bueno! Second, was the Circle K for lotto tickets, and then, we finally checked in. Once the accomodations were squared away we hit Edgewater casino.

Frank and I had zero luck so we left mom and Mike to play over at the Belle. Luck did not find us there, either. We tried VP and Keno with no success. At least, the Tecate was ice cold. We moved on to the Pioneer. Again, no wins. I was broke. Frank had a little left to gamble so we went back to the Belle and he hopped on Blackjack. My mom and Mike had just wandered in so I met up with them. We walked around a bit, when I checked in on Frank he was doing well. He gave me $30. I pocketed $20 and had $10 to blow. Mom found her favorite Fairy's Fortune. We took up the row. I played Village People just enough to keep the drinks coming. And that they did, even mom was drinking. Later, Frank found us there. He had a successful session and played with good group that had him doing shots of Jack. We went back to the hotel room. Somehow, I doubt we walked a straight line.

Frank and I crashed, mom and Mike went back to Edgewater. Ultimately, having very little luck, but a good amount of fun. The learned of the trouble with time down by the river. For those unfamiliar, time changes regularly depending on which cell tower is providing you service. Arizona doesn't observe daylight savings so half the year they are an hour ahead. Mom and Mike were unsure if it was four or five o'clock so they called it a night, err morning.

Monday, I was the first to rise, but Frank was the first out and about. He had freeplay and he wanted to get into the poker tournament. He did and made it to the final table. Said and done, he took first place. Meanwhile, we had checked out of the hotel room and we were sitting outside by the river enjoying the gorgeous day. I loved soaking up the warm sun! I was so spoiled by the mid-70's I did not want to leave.

Colorado River

There are three musts every time we visit Laughlin, the first is Mexican at Casa Serrano inside Riverside or El Palacio in Bullhead, the second is to feed the koi at Colorado Belle. And the third, is to stop at Searchlight for Bowlingo at Terrible's. This trip was no different.

Though, I didn't want to leave Laughlin. The promise of driving through Christmas Tree Pass made it bearable. It's a drive we've been curious about for ages. It's a smoother and shorter ride than expected, about 16 miles. We rode in the Avalanche, but I think my Impala could handle it. We enjoyed the scenic route. We'll check it out again when I'm able to do some hiking. I'd like to see Grapevine Canyon.

Just one of the many decorated trees in Christmas Tree Pass.

After our stop in Searchlight, we made one more detour before home. We stopped at Club Fortune in Henderson. This is our favorite local's casino. We only wish it were closer to home. I lost $20 on slots instantly, then another on full pay JOB. I got some play there, though. Still, I sit in four to the royal hell. So far it doesn't seem like I am any closer to the allusive royal. This summer will be nine years since my one and only. At some point, I must be due. Right? Frank and I played some $2 Blackjack and he won enough to cover my loss. It wasn't a bad way to end our gambling adventure.

Looking back at 2011 goals

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

My goals for 2012 mirror 2011 quite a bit, let's have a look back, shall we?

Get thy ass to Italy. We've been talking about our dream trip for ages. The time has come to make it happen. We've opened a savings account solely for Italy. I get paid weekly, and with each check we're socking away $50 into the Italy fund. $2400 won't exactly get us there in 2012 like I want, but when coupled with extra income like gifts, gambling winnings and bonuses it makes it far more doable.

Shrink thy ass. January 10 is the start of our health challenge. Frank is taking part in a "biggest loser" sort of challenge through work, his team is competing for the biggest loss. I'm tagging along on this challenge to shed a few pounds and to tone up some flab. This week has been splurge-tastic, but then we buckle down for the long haul. We will exercise at least 3x week, anything beyond that is a bonus. I will menu plan 6 healthy dinners a week. We get one day to relax. No going overboard, but we'll earn a day of freedom for sticking to the plan all week. The challenge runs until April. The big reward, besides abs of steel and a smaller ass -- oh, and better health -- is New York. The sweet glorious eats in New York City.

Move thy ass. I've talked about doing the Santa Run for a couple years now. However, it's been all talk. I will take part in the Santa Run this year.

Wisen thy ass. I've been talking about taking a photography class or workshop for quite sometime. Again, it's time to do it. I also need to attend monthly writers meetings. Crazy schedules and excuses kept me from most in 2010, the time has come to make it priority. It's worth exploring...

and lastly, don't be an ass I will work harder to build relationships.

We are closer to getting thy ass to Italy. If I can find a sweet deal on all the place that are must see, we might just swing it. However, I have to actually sit down and formulate a real plan to price.

Shrinking thy ass remains a goal. I did well last year tagging along with Frank's "biggest loser" challege, but four months of inactivity did me no favors. Frank has joined a team, again, this year, for the challenge. We'll reign it in as soon as we get back from San Francisco. That'll be our last hurrah of sorts until we break late February for a weekend in San Diego. Again, the challenge will run through April.

Moving thy ass requires continued effort. I could not participate in the Santa Run. I was booted. 2012 is my year, baby. I will do it. To get me in the spirit, I'm doing the 5k Color Run in February. I've even convinced Frank to join me.

Wisen thy ass, I actually met these goals. I took a photography class and I attended a couple writers meetings. However, I put writing on the back burner. It remains there. I enjoy photography more so that's how I'd prefer to use my free time. To further develop my skills and force myself to think out of the box, I intend to do a photo a day for 2012. Rather than share those photos daily, I will post weekly. I think it will be a good creative outlet and a fun way to capture the day-to-day.

Don't be an ass is a work in progress. I have worked harder at building relationships, but I know I can do better.

Welcoming 2012!

2012-01-03T14:54:00.000-08:00

Before ushering in the new year, our last meal of 2011 was thin crust sausage pizza at Amore. My mom and brother joined us. Mike debated celebrating on the strip but ultimately decided to avoid the crowds and hang with us. We kicked off the night at the house drinking beers from around the world: Russia, Jamaica, Mexico, Guatamala, and Honduras. We cheered on the new year for the east coast and the midwest. Then, we left for the desert.

We went up to the ridge at the end of Sunset Rd. expecting to be the only one, but there were three vehicles already there. Two separate groups. We set up near the larger group that started a fire, they were from Nellis AFB, and later we learned it was Preston & friends, we met Preston over a year ago, off-roading with Vegas Valley 4-wheelers. Small world. Even though the temps on the strip were in the 40's, it was 29 on the mountain. Chilly, but the fire helped. I set the canon on the tripod to take video, it moved and my panoramic view suffered. Oh well. I took a few photos with the Nikon, but I was too chilly to hold it steady to capture the fireworks. I got a few ok shots.

We were going to light of fireworks of our own, but Preston had a wee one and a pup we didn't want to scare. We thought we'd stop on our way back home to an open area, but we decided to return another (warmer) night. Frank had to be up early for work on the first so we crashed after tuning into the local news firework footage. Meanwhile, Mom and Mike went out to the Orleans to try out their luck in the new year. Neither experienced big wins, but luck seemed to favor my mom.

It was a low-key way to welcome 2012, but I like it that way. There is something special about nearly 500,000 people partying their asses off 10 miles away while we enjoy absolute peace and the island of glittering lights & neon in the sea of utter darkness... Only to be broken up by the booming fireworks as the clock strikes midnight.

Goodbye 2011!

2011-12-30T13:05:00.000-08:00

The final hours of 2011 are winding down. Only three more hours of work until next year - woot! As the years come and go, we can reflect on our yesterdays and make resolutions for our tomorrows. Me? I plan to keep on, keeping on. I have a long list of must-do adventures, and I resolve to continue to do as many as I can.

One change for the new year is where I store my photos. I've given up on my various picasa web albums and subscribed to SmugMug. To get it started, I've created a gallery which covers my favorite photos from this year, plus a few that are a bit older. Give the "Best of the Bunch" a look.

Have a safe and happy new year! May 2012 be better than ever.

Year in Review: Food & Drink

2011-12-29T13:25:00.000-08:00

Our dining adventures have taken us coast to coast. And all that eating has made us thirsty. We’ve tried dozens of new beers this year. When looking back, some food and drink has been more memorable than others. Here’s the scoop.

Coast vs. Coast: Langer’s Deli (LA) and Katz’s Deli (NYC)

Langer’s Perfect Pastrami

Katz’s Incredible Corned Beef

What I crave the most: Furikake Dog, Dogzilla (L.A. Food Truck)

Most messy, but oh, so delicious: Dungeness Crab, Crabhouse, San Francisco

Best new discovery: Banh Mi, Saigon Sandwich, San Francisco

Best new find on the road: El Indio, San Diego

Taquitos like no other

Their tamales were the perfect Christmas gift. We loved the taste of San Diego at home.

Eats I hate to love: Double Jalapeno Cheeseburger, White Castle, Chicago

Worst meal: Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion, Summerlin

Shellfish Sampler

Meal to most exceed expectations: Jean-Georges, Aria

Start to finish, fantastic! But it’s the key lime dessert I cannot stop thinking about.

Worth the drive: Casa Serrano, Laughlin

Favorite cheap eats near home: Windy City Beefs N Dogs

Chicago dog and fries

Most reliable near home: Circo, Bellagio

Most reliable on the road: Con Pane Bakery, San Diego

Some of the more memorable suds I’ve had this year are Mama's Little Yella Pils, Abita (various), Jamaican Lager, Artichoke Basille’s Artichoke Beer, Yuengling, Lightning Thunderweisen and Las Vegas’ own Tahoe Blue, but the one that left the greatest impression on me this year is Belgium’s Delirium Tremens.

I don't know what sorts of delicious days lie ahead, but I'm certain we will eat, drink and be merry.

Cheers!

Got Beer?

2011-12-28T13:51:00.000-08:00

Before all the holiday hubbub we took a tour of the Joseph James Brewing Company. Based in Henderson, they've grown quite a bit since first getting their start 2006. They bottle at least seven different beers and two sodas. Their keg business is growing and they've recently gained canning capabilities.

We sampled all of the alcohol they had on site. I'm most fond of their lagers, but it's the Tahoe Blue that led me to them and it remains a favorite. We tried some unusual varieties with coconut and pumpkin, and a heavy hand of chocolate. Those were least to our liking. The Weize Guy hefe wasn't a strong crowd pleaser, either. Fox Tail, the Gluten Free beer was better than expected. Not something I'd choose over any of my favorites but it's good to know it gives those with dietary restrictions an option. Nevada Steem, Hop Box IPA and Red Fox aren't typically beers I'd order, but each went down easily.

Tours are held once a month or so. Friend them on facebook for dates. You must RSVP ahead of time, you pay $5 for a glass and then it's all the free samples you can handle. Matt, and the head brewers are friendly and informative. They work hard to keep your glass full and to answer any questions.

A Very Vegas Christmas

2011-12-27T13:07:00.000-08:00

Over the holiday weekend, we got over to Bellagio and Ethel M's to enjoy the Christmas decorations. Here's a peek, enjoy.

Year in Review: Travels

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

At the end of 2010, I suspected we'd have to move in 2011, but I was ok with leaving our home behind because it would provide us with more freedom, and I yearned to travel. Thankfully, we were able to stay put, and I did not let go of my desire to travel. Life is too short, and talk is cheap, I wanted 2011 to be about making things happen. I didn't want to just talk of places I wanted to visit, I wanted to have those experiences, and we did... We covered a lot of ground.

We had traveled to San Diego and Phoenix a few times, San Francisco twice, Chicago, New York and Anaheim. And there was Brian Head, UT, and we even got to New Orleans. We were very fortunate that we were able to travel a great deal. You'd think I might have tired of it, but nope. The more I see, the more I want to experience.

Italy is still my dream trip. It's getting closer to reality. We've saved a nice sum this year, the trip is technically doable in 2012, I just have to find a deal for the right time. I'm working on it. I'm shooting for Spring, so I'll have to figure it out pretty quickly.

We developed a greater appreciation for San Francisco, this year. We just love it there and it's very affordable for us to travel to especially when considering the expense of trips to cities likes NYC and New Orleans. We are anxious to return next month. February, we are looking to escape to San Diego. It's our home away from home. March, we'll head out to Phoenix for Spring Training. And you'll have to stay tuned to see where else we head. Louisville is likely. And we intend on many weekend getaways. We are dying to enjoy more Razor adventures.

Santa Came! Santa Came!

2011-12-25T23:58:00.000-08:00

Gosh, Christmas mornings were such an exciting time when we were small. The magic of the holiday is so special. Still, being grown and getting the family together is always nice. I just wish there weren't 1800 miles between us here, and the rest of my family in Chicago.

It sounds like they had a nice holiday, though. Nicky made the "nice list" and Santa brought him guns! His favorite. I asked what kind? "All kinds," he said. Big ones and little ones? "No, just big ones?" He was one happy kid.

We got a later start to our Christmas than friends and family. It's fun being on the west coast, when I got up at 7:30, everyone back east had already shared their holiday cheer and treasures on facebook. It warmed my heart to see all that joy. I prepared a Christmas feast, a bit nontraditional with Gouda stuffed pork chops, but that's how I roll. Mom made her delicious Parmesan salad and snow tunnel cake, and my brother curbed our appetites with deviled eggs. Frank's family joined us for eats and games.

Santa brought me a new lens for my camera so I am excited to get familiar with it. It's a Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX , which is the last one on my wish list. I also received great gifts like beef jerky, gourmet eats, beer and money toward accessories for the Razor. I am very lucky.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

May the Christmas season,
fill your home with joy,
your heart with love,
and your life with laughter!

MAACO Bowl

2011-12-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

We were fortunate to receive club seats for yesterday's MAACO Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. Frank has been a BSU fan for sometime, he loves the way they play the game. They always pull out some of the craziest and most unexpected plays. They did not disappoint going against ASU. I enjoy watching Boise State even though I've never been a big NCAA football fan, mainly because of the BCS. You know what that stands for right? Being Constantly Snubbed. I dislike the ranks, I much prefer a true champion. If college football implemented a bracket system like they have for basketball I'd be all about it. December Madness, can you imagine?

Anyway, back to the game. We were able to park in the VIP lot. Getting in and out of the stadium couldn't have been easier.

The sun was setting when we got to our seats. They were great by the way. In the club house, there was a nice spread of eats and non-alcoholic drinks were complimentary. Beer and cocktails were half-price. Inside seating filled up quickly because it was mighty chilly in the desert last night. We snacked and then took our seats outside, and waited for the game to get started.

I love it when they bring out the field sized flag for sporting events. Fighter jets flew over after the National Anthem.

Frank was thrilled that this was the first sporting event he was able to place bets while attending the game.

Boise wasted no time getting this Bowl started. How long before the first touchdown? 14 seconds. Yep, that's right. And the rest of the game was non-stop action... from BSU's end zone to end zone touchdowns and interceptions, to ASU;s missed field goal attempt and a pointless touchdown. All in all, it was a good, good, night. A profitable one, too. Frank snagged two out of three bets, that pointless touchdown cost him second half BSU -7. Still, he netted a nice sum.

Kicked Up Party Nuts

2011-12-22T10:11:00.001-08:00

Need a last minute gift or appetizer?

Here's an idea from The Sriracha Cookbook. I made these "Kicked Up Party Nuts" Sunday while I was whipping up batches of cookies. The nuts come together quickly, the finished product is pretty sweet. Next time, I'll bump up the sriracha and cut back on sugars so that peppery heat can shine.

1 lb Salted Mixed Nuts
1 Egg White
1 tsp Water
1 Tbsp Sriracha
1/2 c Sugar
1/2 c Packed Light Brown Sugar
1 tsp Fresh Rosemary

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Add nuts to a large bowl, mix remaining ingredients together in a small bowl. Combine, and spread out in single layer across a lined cookie sheet. Bake one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Buffet to Bellagio

2011-12-21T13:36:00.000-08:00

The family got together for one last meal before my dad, Amy and Nicky went back to Chicago. We had a voucher for two free dinners and 50% off on others. Seven of us ate for $60 or something close to there. It was a deal!

I haven't been to the Rio buffet in several years, it's been remodeled since my last visit. The selection is still huge. There are all your usual buffet offerings plus quite a few made to order Asian stations. We tried the stir-fry and soup, I had Pho. It was like a Campbell's soup version, but I give them props for offering it. Mexican choices were what I like best of all the offerings. The whole family was able to get enough to eat, but some had difficulty finding items they really enjoyed.

I still think M Resort is the best choice off-strip, but it would've cost us at least double to go there (thank you, discounts!). However, when full-price is considered M Resort is my pick - hands down.

Switching gears....

December 1, Frank and I had dinner at Circo inside Bellagio. We've been several times before and it never disappoints so it was Frank's pick to celebrate his 32nd birthday. The restaurant was very crowded for a Thursday night - I was happy to see it - and server didn't skip a beat. Again, service, food and the view was stellar. It remains our favorite restaurant in the valley.

We tried two new dishes: Caprese Risotto and Duck Panzotti, and we split and order of Egi's Ravioli, because it's irresistable. And we each had our own Tiramisu for dessert. The Caprese Risotto was a Chef Selection it's not served regularly, but it should be. It was scrumptious! The Panzotti was brilliantly prepared, but the fantastic Egi's Ravioli outshined it.

Garbage!

2011-12-20T09:07:00.000-08:00

Last night, Frank and I watched the season finale of Dexter. It's been a horrible season and the finale was no better. It was complete garbage. I'm so disappointed. I cannot believe this crap came from the same people that bought us the Trinity Killer. The show jumped the shark this season, and they've renewed the show for two more seasons, why?

Freeze! Hands Up in the Air!

2011-12-19T18:37:00.000-08:00

Wave them around like you just don't care, because it's time to celebrate.

Or, at least, it was. In my continuous effort to catch up I wanted to share about the party we threw for Nicky's 5th birthday. The boy has been all about police for a couple years now. Cops is one of his favorite shows. Now, he's also into everything military. He'll be thrilled that he'll be able to dress in camo head to toe after opening his Christmas gifts, but his birthday was all police themed.

We filled up on donuts on a stick and hero sandwiches, and all the kids got these goody bags. Each one had a badge, hat and note pad for writing tickets, mini wooly willy's for police sketch and for the babies I had rubber duckies in police uniform.

We played games like "red light, green light", "cop, cop, robber", shooting practice and pin the tail on the donkey. Had I been thinking, I should've done pin the badge on the officer or something along those lines. It was all good fun, I also had a pinata for the kids filled with candy, tattoos and slinkys. We had the kids hunt for the pinata before stringing it up. We gave them clues to solve the crime of the candy caper.

Everyone was under suspicion including the birthday boy and his buddy, Gavyn.

Without kiddos of my own, it was great fun having the opportunity to plan a kid's party. It was even better to celebrate a birthday with my favorite boy.

Stop and Smell the Roses

2011-12-15T20:05:00.000-08:00

On Black Friday I avoided the crowds and shopping chaos. Instead, Nicky, my dad and I stopped to smell the roses.

It was better than any bargain.

Hey, Stranger!

2011-12-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

So, I suck. I thought I'd figure out how to better juggle my time by now, but work is just crazy. I am enjoying the challenge, though. Once I adjust to the learning curve and adapt to a new schedule I'll find my ebb and flow. After, the holidays are behind us, it'll be less chaotic, too.

I'm happy that I've managed to get my decorations up, Christmas cards sent, shopping done and presents wrapped. I'd like to get some holiday baking done, maybe I'll squeeze it in this weekend?

This past weekend we ran off to Laughlin, my mom and Mike joined us. It was nice to getaway, even if it was for a few hours. We had fun showing them around.

The best news of late is I'm finally out of the boot. It's been four months since I injured my ankle, it's about time it's feeling better. I still have some achiness, but the pain is minimal. Swelling hasn't been much of an issue. I do worry it may swell now that it's not immobilized but I'm hopeful I'm past that hurdle. I need to work to build strength. That's my focus now. My goal is to be back to normal by our trip to San Francisco next month.

I recently had blood work done, and it shows I'm low on Vitamin D. I'm going to start a daily vitamin and calcium citrate, with any luck that'll help speed up the healing process. If not, it should at least mean stronger bones. I've also been told to keep hydrated because I'm prone to gout or kidney stones. Otherwise, I was pleased to hear I'm very healthy. I have no signs of diabetes and my cholesterol is low and my HDL is high. Once I shed the pounds I've gained over the last four months. I should be in tip top shape. The past week I've loosely followed the 17 Day Diet for new ideas to jump start my metabolism, I've lost three pounds. Considering, I can't exercise I was thrilled with the results. I'll continue to use it as a guideline as I continue my weightloss journey. At least until I can get back to my tried and true method of eating less and moving more.

That's the gist of happenings of late. I hope to be back with more tales from the last month sooner, than later.

November Concerts

2011-12-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

November was such a busy month for me, I think it'll take most of December for me to catch up. I did want to share about to concerts I saw last month.

First, was the Dirty Heads at House of Blues, Mandalay Bay. It was my third time seeing them this year. It wasn't my favorite performance, but it was the first indoors. They headlined, and Wallpaper opened for them since Gym Class Heroes cancelled their leg of the tour. Wallpaper was not my style of music, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it.

This was my first show at the House of Blues, I've only seen comedy acts previously. It's not the best venue, but I like that you can see the stage from almost anywhere. We caught the show from the side of the stage near the bar. I would've liked to have been front and center like previous shows but it was a risk I couldn't take with my ankle. The show was standing room only unless you bought VIP tickets that offered bar or bench seating. Frank asked a security guard if there was a place I could sit while Wallpaper was on stage. She was mean nasty bitch. She questioned why one would go to a show knowing they had a broken foot? Frank and her had a few exchanges before he stormed off in disgust. What set him off? He asked, "well, what about those in disabled or in wheel chairs?" Her reply? "They have their seat!" Totally uncalled for. We returned back to our spot on the side of the stage. There was no security there, Frank asked him about a seat for me. A couple seconds later, he appeared with a bar stool. We thanked him profusely. I was able to sit and conserve my energy for the main act. Dirty Heads did not disappoint. This was one of their last stops on the tour so we got to hear a couple new songs that we hadn't seen earlier when the tour was just starting out.

Our second show was a treat because my cousin plays bass for two bands and they left the midwest to tour the east and west coasts. On my coast they played Tempe, Vegas, San Diego, the Viper Room in LA last friday Friday and Slim's in San Francisco on Saturday. While, here, they performed at Hard Rock Cafe on the strip.

We got to the venue early and had a chance to chat with Kevin. His band Strange Arrangement played first, the music was from there latest album, Polygraph, so I was unfamiliar. It's good stuff, though, check it out. It's also been nominated for Homegrown Music Network's best studio album of the year. You can vote here. Dexterous Roy did a DJ set in between shows. That was the first I've seen a DJ with a drummer, it was neat. Then, Digital Tape Machine joined them. Kevin is in that band, too. It's a side project of Umphries Mcgee, which is a pretty popular midwest band. They sell out in Chicago every time they play.

We left just before midnight. I was too sleepy to stay and we both had to be up early. Digital Tape Machine was still on stage, my brother stayed until the end, he said they finished their set at 12:30. That Hard Rock Cafe is a very cool venue, I'd definitely see another show there. I love that they pump the music through the entire building, you can hear it in the bathrooms and walking along the strip. At this show, they had a wide variety of bottled craft beers for $5. I took a liking to Shiner 102. It was great to enjoy a good beer while taking in the show.

Taking a Bite of Dirt

2011-12-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure I mentioned before that I never made it out for the deals offered on Black Friday. I was too tired so I stayed home and spent additional time with Nicky and my dad. I slept in my warm bed, while my mom and siblings shopped until they dropped. The decision to stay home was easily made after perusing the sale ads, the only item to make my wish list was the Shark mop. The Kindle caught my eye, but $79? I can get that price every day on Amazon.

I gave my sister cash for the mop, and asked her to buy it if she could get her hands on one. When I woke Friday morning there was the Shark. I guess it was no trouble at all. Considering they even snagged mom a 46" LCD TV for less than $300. That took much patience and persistence on my brother's behalf, he camped out for a couple hours before the doors opened. Anyway, back to the Shark. It stayed in its box until Sunday.

My house was long overdue for a deep cleaning, there was no better time to try it out. Assembly was a breeze. There is a note about homes with hard water, deposits can build up so distilled water is recommended. Fortunately, I keep it on hand to maintain Frank's humidor. The reservoir doesn't take much water. That's one complaint, I had to refill a few times to finish the floors. However, I'd guess this size is adequate for average size spaces.

My lower level consists of the laundry room, kitchen, dining room, family room, bathroom, and bedroom. All of these rooms are tiled. The sunroom was an addition and there is pergo flooring in there. Mop and bucket washing is time consuming, back breaking and just plain exhausting. I was ready for a short cut.

The Shark mop S3505 heats up quickly. Less than minute and it'll be nice and steamy. Cleaning goes quickly. The pad is fairly large and the mop makes large strokes. For tough spots, you can pump the handle for a steam surge. This works well for sticky spots that dirt loves to cling to. Two microfiber cloths are included. I needed both to clean my floors. They are easy to put on and take off. You toss the soiled pads in the wash to clean for their next use. I doubt they have a long life. I've already ordered additional cloths from Amazon.

The mop cleans without any chemicals. This is particularly nice for me because I'm allergic to Phenol which is in most household cleaners. The less I come in contact with it, the more my skin thanks me. It was great to do without the redness and dry hands I usually experience after mopping the floor.

The Shark has earned its place in my bag of (cleaning) tricks right next to my carpet steamer, vinegar, CLR, Bleach, Shout gel, SOS Pads and Magic Erasers. Armed with those tools my laundry and home can be squeaky clean with ease.

The Main Attraction: Bears vs Raiders

2011-12-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

Sunday, I told the family if they got up early enough we'd ride the cable car and see Chinatown, but they snoozed. I got up about 8 o'clock. My plan was to shower, ride the F Street car to the Ferry Building arrive at 9:00. Gather my goodies, have a small feast at the hotel, pack and we'd leave for Oakland. Dad joined me, we left Mike and Amy to continue their slumber. All went well until we got to the Ferry Building. It was dead. Hardly a creature was stirring. Ah, they must get a late start on Sundays. I suggest we check out the bay and kill an hour, surely the shops would open at 10:00. Acme breads did. I loaded up with snacks, and treats for my mom and Frank. We stopped by the Alfieri Fruits & Nuts kiosk, we loaded up on varieties of nuts and Almond brittle. Yum! I desperately wanted Stonehouse Olive Oil to open, we never check our luggage when we fly so we've never been able to bring home their delicious dipping oil. I drove this trip and all I could think is I can finally bring home treats! Same goes for meats from Boccalone and Golden Gate Meat Co. We waited until 10:45 and no one opened. Boccalone taunted me a bit, opening their gates, but they wouldn't start slicing for platters until 11:00. We could not wait. We had a football game to get to. I called Amy and told her to pack us up and get our belongings into the car. Time was running out.

We tossed our finds into the car, grabbed the tickets for the game and we were hopped on the F Street Car to Market/Drumm so we could take the BART to Oakland. The hardest part was loading the exact fare on four seperate cards, we missed the first train because dad and Amy wanted a smoke break. We caught the next one, and we crossed the bay in a jiffy. I was surprised how fast we went. A few stops later, we arrived at our destination, Oakland Coliseum.

The lines to get in were ridiculous because of the lengthy security checks. They divided us men from women. The men out numbered us, so for once, us ladies got through the line faster. A rarity since we almost always have a bag or purse. Amy and I waited for dad and Mike. Finally, we reunited and we got into the stadium just as Oakland kicked their first field goal. Our seats were in section 149, 20 rows from the field. Everyone was on their feet and it was the loudest football game I've experienced - we only sat during half-time and time-outs. Oakland fans are loud and proud!

Chicago fans were present, but far outnumbered.

We were torn, we didn't know who to root for, it was a crutial win for both teams. And we grew up rooting for both, our mom is a huge Bears fan, and it was dad's favorite behind the Raiders. He's been a fan since the 70's. This was his first football game. Amy and Mike's, too, for that matter. I knew Frank and mom would root for the Bears. Dad wanted the Raiders to win, Amy was completely torn and Mike bet the over. I rooted for Mike to win. A high scoring game would be a win for me. I find them to be the most entertaining to watch. I cheered mostly for the Raiders, but also for the Bears whenever they snagged a big play.

The game was nearing the end and we began to wonder if dad would get to see the Raiders score a touchdown. Janikowski just kept kicking field goals, so many he actual broke a team record with six. Once dad witnessed that record breaking kick, I hoped for touch down. After 40 years of being a fan he just had to see one live. And he did. Mike won his bet soon after.

Oakland fans have a rough reputation. So much so we went sporting Raiders wear, despite having some love for the Bears. We didn't know what to expect and we certainly didn't want any trouble. Oakland curses more than any other city I've been. They also smoke up in the bathroom, whacky and regular tabacco. Plus, they sneak hits in stands. Many fans are cocky, some douchy as all get out... Like the guy next to Amy. He starts with "Fuck you, Bears Fans!" He hogs the aisle taking up his and Amy's space. He got totally tanked he napped 3rd quarter and the 4th we feared he'd puke on us. But most are just there to share the love of the game and display pride in their team.

In the end, Raiders won. They played a better game than the Bears.

We fought the crowds out of the stadium to make our way back to the BART station. It was quite the bottle neck until we made it across the bridge. They brought in large trains to get us out and on our way in a hurry. Since we pre-paid the round trip fare we avoided the massive ticket lines, we hopped on board and we made great time back to San Francisco.

We stopped back at the Ferry Building, I was hopeful I could snag my much desired goodies, but only Cowgirl Creamery was open. That's never a bad thing, we sampled a few cheeses and brought a couple home to enjoy. We were pretty hungry so we tried to decided on one last meal. After some debate, I suggested Amy and Mike get In-N-Out and dad and I get seafood from the carts in the Wharf. We did just that. While Mike and Amy ate double doubles we dug into crab and shrimp cocktail. It was my first time trying the carts, it was fresh and tasty. You get a fair amount for $9. With our hunger curbed we loaded into the car and set off for home.

I drove from San Francisco to Bakersfield hitting massive fog the last 40 miles wore me out. Not too mention it was already 12:15 when we stopped for gas. I moved to the backseat and dad took the wheel. He drove us the rest of the way while I slept. It was 4:30 when we pulled into the driveway. I practically sleepwalked up to bed trying to get as many winks in as possible before my alarm sounded at 6:15. Thankfully, the rest of the family took on the task of unloading the car.

The trip was a success even if I didn't get to show them all the sights. That just leaves an excuse for them to return and explore on their own. Meanwhile, Frank and I are counting down the days until our next taste. 48... 47...

Hello, Again, Old Friend!

2011-12-02T13:26:00.000-08:00

It was a week ago, we loaded into my car and hit the road for San Francisco. The drive was long, most notable sights were fog and the Wind Farms outside Mojave. Nearly nine hours after our departure, we arrived. It was so bizarre to come in from Oakland. I didn't realize that was supposed to happen and I thought I came the wrong way, missing an exit on the way. It was very strange to come across the Bay Bridge. I really thought I'd come up the penisula so I was so discombobulated.

We needed a hotel to stay, I never booked anything for Friday unsure of how far we'd make it. I recalled seeing the Bayshore Inn on Columbus which is a motel in the Wharf. I figured it had to be less than the hotels (holiday inn wanted $149+$45 to park + taxes). It was, and luckily they had one room with double beds left, it was $99 with parking. The room was shitty, cold and noisy but it served its purpose. We were starved when we got in and there were few options nearby that late.

After finding a couple bar kitchens closed we went to Golden Boy Pizza for slices. They closed the inside only selling slices from the street. There was a large crowd being the only food around and the bars had last call. It was interesting people watching... people were smoking joints in line. I could probably test positive for marijuana right now for the amount of pot smoke I inhaled this weekend... Thankfully, they didn't run out of slices before our turn. We each got one. We walked back to the hotel and passed a lot of drunks that wanted our pizza. By the time we got to the hotel the crust wasn't crisp because it was all steamy from being in the box. It wasn't half as good as last time I had it, but it was 100x better than Denny's and that was our only other option at 2am. After eating, I crashed hard. My dad, Mike and Amy followed soon after.

Saturday morning, we checked out of the motel. I cannot recommend Bayside Inn at the Wharf, but we had nice views from our old, dank room.

When we set out my thought was to drive to see the farther off sights that are not easily reached by public transit, while killing time before we could check into the Holiday Inn at the Wharf. Fortunately, the family was game. Our first stop was to view the Golden Gate Bridge. I didn't plan to go across to Sausalito, but it worked out that way because traffic was so heavy I couldn't make my exit. We drove over the bridge and sat in traffic. Eventually, it was our turn to enter the lot that offers lovely views of San Francisco. Frank and I had been before when we biked from the Wharf to Sausalito. It was just as cold and overcast then, too.

After our look around, I planned to head back to San Francisco, but traffic was jammed going back. We explored Sausalito some before going back via another exit. The hills are wild over there. I felt like I was off-roading on a few of those streets. I cannot imagine growing up there, riding bikes or taking the bus to school is much different experience than mine. Folks from Wisconsin called us flatliners for a reason. Anyway, we made our way back, and our next stop was the Sutro Baths for a look at the Pacific Ocean. Weather conditions were far more pleasant here.

After our look around, we drove by Alamo Square for a look at the Painted Ladies, which are also known from the Full House opening scene. Traffic was a bear getting back to the Wharf. It took forever. It was stop and go the whole way which wears this booted girl out. I was so focused on the traffic jam, I completely forgot I wanted to drive down Lombard Street. Mark that as the first major landmark the family didn't see on their visit.

Seeing those sights took us 3.5 hours. I happily parked the car when we arrived at the hotel. I much prefer public transit in San Francisco. Driving was stressful and inconvenient. We received an upgraded room upon check-in, which provided us with a small fridge. We unloaded our bags. After getting settled in our warm spiffy room (that cost less than the motel, thanks to Hotwire), I suggested we go eat. I was STARVED. That's a crime in San Francisco with all those glorious dining options. Dad wanted to eat at Aliotos, I thought now was a good time. If we went later, reservations would be required and my family is not the punctual type. We moseyed on over, the family was surprised how close we were. We ran into Bushman on the way. In all my visits that was the first I saw him. We made it to Aliotos and I was right, we were able to walk right in. After ordering, the sun began to set, the skies changed from sky blue to coral before night fell.

The view was lovely. Service was a bit slow and not terribly friendly. Frankly, it felt like we were an inconvenience. Prices are a bit higher than I've found at other seafood houses and I'd soon learn their portions are smaller, too. My brother and sister don't enjoy fruits of the sea so they ordered pasta and chopped steak. My dad chose a combination saute with crab, shrimp and scallops. I cannot come to San Francisco and skip crab so I went with half of the marinated dungeness. I did not realize it would be served cold. That wasn't a bad thing, but it was a surprise. It felt like an appetizer more than entree. Dad kindly picked up the tab, and we were on our way.

The city was ours. I figured it was only Chinatown that was off the table since much of it closes at dusk, but we spent the evening in Fisherman's Wharf. We walked to Ghiradelli Square and then to Pier 39 stopping in shops and galleries along the way. We stopped in Fisherman's Pizza for beers, the Longboard Lager sign in the window drew us in. Prices were a bit high so we sought out another bar. Frank and I usually stop at Fiddler's Green so we walked over there. They were charging a cover. There was no way I'd pay a cover for such a dive. We walked up to Kennedy's Irish Bar instead. We camped out there. They have a huge beer selection and prices are very reasonable. Last call was coming soon and hunger was striking. I noticed the time and we had a few minutes to get In N Out before they closed. Dad had never had it, and it is a real treat for Amy and Mike. We took our bags full of fries and double doubles back to the hotel. It was a nasty walk over. The streets were filled with drunks and pukers. Not pretty at all! Fortunately, we didn't lose our appetite. We managed to stuff ourselves silly and then crashed looking forward to the fun that was to come.

December?!

2011-12-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

How can this be? How is it December already? Soon, I'll be saying the same about 2012. But here it is, today is Frank's birthday. Happiest of happy's to him. We'll be celebrating tonight with dinner at Circo. And then, again, next month in San Francisco. Southwest was running a sale and I couldn't resist $39 airfare. We'll finally travel during crab season, we've just missed it every previous trip.

I hope you kids had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. I did, but boy, November was a hectic month! I'm definitely in need of a breather. I plan to hibernate all weekend. Since old man winter has paid Las Vegas a visit, it shouldn't be too hard to stay indoors. As exhausted as I've been, I wonder if I will even leave my bed?

Work has left me mentally exhausted, the visits with friends and family, trips and preparations for gatherings left me physically beat. My gimpy self handled it all as well as can be expected. I should only have two weeks left in the boot, I cannot wait to be free. My ankle held up well considering I gave it a pretty good beating throughout November. I did bail on Black Friday shopping. I was too sore and too tired to fight the crowds. Staying home also gave me time with my nephew and I wouldn't trade that for the world. My mom, sister and brother shopped and scored all sorts of deals. So, in the end everyone was happy.

I was extremely thankful this Thanksgiving, it was a special treat to have my whole family gathered around the table. It was nice to have my dad around, hopefully it won't be another seven years before he returns. We had a nice getaway to San Francisco, I'm really glad I was able to show them around one of my favorite city's. They all left on Tuesday. Goodbye's are always filled with tears, but our hearts are also filled with warm memories. Time and time again, I remind myself not to cry because it's over, but to smile because it happened.

Gobble! Gobble!

2011-11-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP
MAY YOUR POTATOES AND GRAVY
HAVE NARY A LUMP
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS
AND YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE
AND MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER
STAY OFF YOUR THIGHS!

Warm wishes for happy and safe holiday!

My apologies for lack of posts lately. I've taken on new responsibilities at work so I've been busy learning the ropes. Amy and Nicky have been in town for the past week, and my dad arrived a couple days ago. Tomorrow will be the first time since 1997 my family has shared a holiday together. I'll be cooking a feast. The chaos continues with Black Friday shopping, and then, my dad, Mike, Amy and I are driving up to the Bay Area. We'll enjoy the sights in San Francisco on Saturday, and Sunday, we'll be in Oakland to see the Raiders vs. Bears. Fun times ahead...

"Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay"

2011-11-21T07:58:00.000-08:00

Saturday, we packed and checked out. Then, we headed over to Chinatown for yummy peking duck at R & G Lounge. We didn't order eggrolls, but they appeared and we couldn't turn them away.

The duck was so good. I'm not sure a word was spoke while we feasted. We saw salt and pepper crab coming out of the kitchen like hotcakes, next time we'll have to try that.

We weren't hungry in the least bit, but Good Luck Cafe was practically next door. We walked by and they had sandwiches on dutch crunch and that's all it took to sway Frank. He told them it was our first time and asked for a recommendation. They suggested turkey with bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato. Sold!

It was a tasty sandwich, just a shame I wasn't a more hungry. If I were, I think I would've enjoyed it more. We walked off some calories - oh, wait, they don't exist on vacation - and found ourselves at the Ferry Building. They were having a large farmer's market. There were all sorts of tents and vendors behind the building. We thought we'd ferry over to wherever was convenient, but no times worked out for us. We wanted to squeeze in one more meal before heading home and the ferry would put a wrench in those plans. Instead, we walked to the end of the pier and took in the sights. The Bay bridge just had its 75th anniversary.

We found a bench on the otherside of the pier. We took a seat and soaked up the rays. The people watching was the cheapest source of entertainment - the whole trip, really. After soaking up the warm sun we went to the Embarcadero in search of coffee and restroom, along the way we found ladies selling churros. One won't hurt.

At the Embarcadero we liked the open walkways that connect the buildings, they offer a good vantage point to watch the world go by... so, that's just what we did.

Enough time had passed that we could eat again. We set off for Penang Garden. We ate there last year and thoroughly enjoyed the hot & spicy crab. We attempted to get another, but they weren't able to get any at the market. They tried to sell us the lobster, but it's not the same. We left, and went back to North Beach.

Sotto Mare it was! We loved this restaurant, too, last visit. We got a table outside and ordered the red snapper and cioppino. It was perfect. It made us really not want to leave.

Whenever you gotta rock a bib, you know you are in for a treat and we were not disappointed.

We strolled around and when we were near Saints Peter and Paul church, the church bells rang for a wedding. What a beautiful place to be wed. Frank had us catch a bus up Telegraph hill. It was the golden hour so he thought I'd like the photo opps. Surely, I did.

We had time to spare before the airport so we decided to grab beers at La Trappe. Only those plans were foiled because they weren't open yet. We went to La Rocca's Corner further down, we've been there before. After enjoying a Widmer and Stella, we caught the bus right outside the door to the Bart Station on Powell. We collected our bags and our time in San Francisco was up. We rode to the airport, Southwest welcomed us aboard another light flight so we were encouraged to stretch out. There was a big group celebrating a birthday in Vegas for 12 hours. They were all decked out in 80's wear. I'd like to see what they looked like when they boarded their return flight. Just over an hour later, we were gazing at the glow of the neon reflecting from the strip. We might not have wanted to leave San Francisco, but it was still good to be home.

Frank tossed ten bucks into Wheel of Fortune. Shockingly, we cashed out for $85. That nearly paid our airfare. You have to love it! We claimed our car from the economy lot and headed home. Our last vacation of 2011 was over. No trips are planned. We must rectify that soon.

"When the lights go down in the city"

2011-11-17T12:44:00.000-08:00

Friday, it was rainy, and a bit cool. We could only take the F Streetcar as far as the Ferry Building because of a Veteran's Day Parade.

We wandered around the Financial District to kill time before meeting a friend at Chez Fayala. Taking notice of Occupy San Francisco.

Frank wanted a coffee, it was the first time we had to work to find a coffee shop. Usually, we pass several, this time we had to walk a block. 11:30 rolled around, we walked over to Chez Fayala and Mary met us a few minutes later. Frank got some goodies from the salad bar. Mary and I ordered sandwiches, spicy chicken for her and roasted veggie for me.

We both had a side of caesar salad and we all got free soup since it was our first visit. It was a tasty healthful lunch. It was great catching up with Mary. She had to get back to work so we parted ways.

We were off to the Tenderloin. It's the one neighborhood we hadn't yet visited. I was armed with a list of restaurants to try so we hopped on the bus in search of them. First stop was Saigon Sandwich. We shared roast pork banh mi. It was absolutely delicious. We both loved it. We now adopted a Vietnamese grandmother. Sandwiches were $3, too. It was such a great find.

Next, we wandered over to Morty's Deli. They recommended the pastrami rueben so we shared that. It was the weakest sandwich we had the whole trip, but it was still pretty good.

There were a couple other restaurants on my list, but we couldn't eat anymore. I need to find a way to travel with a second stomach. In fact, at our hotel, there was a Denny's (ick) I wanted to steal the diners' hunger. That stomach space could be better used in so many ways. It made me cry on the inside. But anyway, we hopped on a bus and soon we found ourselves back at the wharf.

We were going to take the Hyde line, but one of the cable cars broke down. We waited a good while, but then gave up as the rain came down harder.

We returned to the hotel for a short bit to wait out the showers. Then, we headed back to Petite Deli for another one of Young's sandwiches. We shared her chicken this time. It was near closing time so it was pretty slow and Young had time to chat with us. We learned how she got started, she's been there over 20 years making sandwiches in that tiny space. She has a real estate story to tell, just like us, but her's made ours burn a bit less. Despite everything, she's always in high spirits each and every day. She figures she'll retire in a few more years. So, we'll get to enjoy her kindness and yummy sandwiches a while longer.

We said good-bye until next time, and set off as soon as we stepped outside it started raining cats and dogs. We hurried (used loosely, I have one speed in my boot) back to the hotel. After a late siesta, we walked over to Fort Mason to check out Off The Grid food truck festival.

There is a large hill on the way, I managed up it. I felt like the little engine that could - I think I can, I think I can - but I did it without much trouble. I was winded, it was the most exercise I've had since busting my ankle in August. There was another couple walking that way, and the girl didn't want to go. Her better half pointed at me and said "she's doing it, and she's in a boot!" It made me feel good.

After the climb up the hill, I had a steep set of stairs to climb down. I managed that, too. Woohoo! My reward was tasty eats from a variety of San Francisco food trucks. Our first stop was Nom Nom. They were recently in Vegas for a fest here that we weren't able to make. We tried a deli banh mi, but we didn't like it much.

Next, we had a lamb kabob and dumplings from Happy Dumpling. The lamb was pretty chewy, but the dumplings were good.

I have no experience with Peruvian food so went I saw Sanguchon, I had to try it. We had the pan con chicharron, which was a yummy sandwich with fried yams and pork loin. We both liked it a lot!

After that, we couldn't resist a duck taco from Kung Fu Taco. It, too, was really good.

Our last stop was Onigilly for Japanese rice balls. We had unagi, grilled eel and sweet soy sauce. I would've liked it better with less soy sauce, it was too salty for my liking.

We left the festival and took the bus to North Beach. Can you tell it's our favorite neighborhood? Nah, I didn't think so. We went to La Trappe to check out their beer selection. The bar was packed like six people deep, we were told we'd have to wait for a table. After 30 minutes, we were told there was no waiting upstairs... why we sat and waited in the cellar, I never know. We were seated and given a beer book, gotta love that. I had a Belgium Blonde Ale. Frank had something similar to a Hefe. Both were great beers. We ordered fries with spicy ketchup and BBQ aioli, and potato leek soup.

The soup was bland, but the fries were good. They reminded me of a thicker cut In N Out fry. We'll return to La Trappe, but we'll stick to the beer.

Later, we found ourselves back at Thai Noodle House. I wanted to try their duck noodle soup and Frank tried the pad thai. It was the cheap beers that brought us back, however.

Both dishes were tasty, but we can get better Thai at home. The price sure is right, though. Once again, we were too full for any more stops so we went back to the hotel to rest up for another day.

"Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair"

2011-11-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

Thursday we began our day at the Ferry Building. We collected our bread: onion slab, cheese wheel, rosemary and rustic rolls, our meat: salami and mortadella platter, dipping oil from Stone House and then we were left to wait for Cowgirl Creamery to open. We gawked at all the fresh produce and meats, if only I had a place to cook!!

M'mmm... Acme bread...

and Cowgirl Creamery! Look at all that glorious cheese!

We wanted it all, but we tried to be practical and stuck to one wedge of peccorino. We took our haul back to the hotel. We dug in! It wasn't pretty, but good god it was fantastic. We stuffed ourselves silly with bread, meat and cheese. We did manage to save cheese and bread for a snack.

We wandered around the financial district, enjoying the beautiful day and trying to work up a hunger. I stopped in the Container Store because I had never been, it's a neat place. Much like Ikea, so much stuff I never knew I needed. We stopped at cigar shop and Frank bought one to his liking. Later, we rode the bus back to North Beach and walked over to Petite Deli to see our old friend Young, she's the Korean grandmother we never had. She is the sweetest lady and she turns out delicious sandwiches in her wee deli. She remembered us, she started us with a sampler of her pasta and potato salad while she worked on our turkey delight.

Young's is the only potato salad I like, lack of mayo and addition of basil makes all the difference.

We shared the turkey delight on dutch crunch. We've never ordered this sandwich before assuming it was like Capriotti's "Bobbie", but it's not. It's light, and a nice blend of sweet and savory with turkey, cheese, lettuce, avocado and cranberries. I never like cranberries in any form, but these were good. I don't know Young's secret, but she makes me love things I don't otherwise enjoy.

We stopped next door at XOX Truffles for a treat. Flavors we chose were: spicy cayenne Tequila, hazelnut and dark chocolate. Little bites of heaven.

We returned to the Wharf and went in search of a place to watch the world go by. We found an observation tower across from the Maritime Museum that suited us well. We soaked up the sun and sea breezes and simply enjoyed the day. It was the first warm and sunny day we've ever had in San Francisco.

After such long glances at Ghirardelli Square, we couldn't resist walking over to grab a dark hot fudge sundae. It hit the spot! After our snack, we resumed watching the world go by. Then, the sun hid behind the buildings and 4 o'clock neared, it was time to go back to the hotel. Frank had a conference call and there was a bed calling my name. The walking and fresh air made me sleepy.

We napped and then snacked on bread and dipping oil before heading out for Beach Blanket Babylon. We made good time to the theater so we grabbed beers at Northstar beforehand. Cute bar, just our style and $3 Stella during happy hour! We watched Chargers vs. Oakland. We left just after halftime. Seating at show is first come, first serve so we didn't want to get seated too late. We were in the third row of the rear section on the aisle. Our seats were great for $25/ea. The show is a lot of fun! I couldn't believe how current it was, they had bits about Kim Kardashian's divorce, Justin Bieber's paternity suit and Rick Perry's brain fart, which had just happened the night before. It was good fun! We were really happy we finally saw it and will likely see it again.

For dinner, we walked over to King of Thai Noodle House. Practically everything on the menu is $5, and beers are cheap too. I was drinking Singha and Frank had Tsingtao, both $3. We had Pad See Ew and egg rolls. It wasn't the best Thai I've had, but it was pretty tasty and the cheapest.

We wandered around North Beach for our next bite. We stumbled on Golden Boy Pizza. I had it on my list of places to try and Frank scoffed, but the pizzas in the window sold us.

We grabbed a seat at the bar. A sausage slice and Speakeasy brew for him and a clam, spinach and garlic slice and Red Hook ESB for me. Best Sicilian slice ever. Light dough, crisp crust... yum! The sausage was the real winner.

After noshing on the delicious slices we wandered North Beach more. We just love that neighborhood. It has such charm and the streets are lined with mom and pop shops. It is known as little Italy, but the area is really a melting pot. There are great restaurants that serve up all kinds of food. Once you add in the clubs and bars it feels a bit like home. Just far less commercial. If only it rained less and most days were sunny like this one, we'd so live in North Beach. It was then I decided I pink puffy heart North Beach. We sought out Don Pisto's for our last bite. We figured every other type of food has been great why not try Mexican. Don Pisto's is pretty swank and the eats are really good. Great salsa and chips to start! We had carnitas and tacos al pastor. Very tasty. Though, I was unable to finish. I was too full.

We had no room left to eat or drink so we walked back to the hotel to rest up for the next day.

"Save Me, San Francisco"

2011-11-15T12:43:00.000-08:00

Our San Francisco trip got underway Wednesday evening. We parked at the economy lot at McCarran this time, instead of valet at MGM. The economy lot is $8/day so it's cheaper than taxis on shorter trips. There is a free shuttle from the lot to the terminal, it was convenient and timely.

Security coming and going was slow because of my boot. I had to be patted and swabbed before proceeding to the terminal. At least, TSA was consistent. Our 5:10 Southwest flight wasn't full so we were able to spread out, we even secured the first row of seats so we were the first ones off the plane when we touched down in San Francisco. We took the tram to Bart and soon we were in the heart of the city. We bought our 3 day Muni pass at the Powell Station vendor and we walked over to the cable car, we took the Hyde line and we were at our hotel fairly quick. I booked the Holiday Inn Fisherman's Wharf for $98/night on hotwire. We entered on the Columbus side of the hotel, but at check in we were told our room was actually in the Beach Building next door. We were a bit scared by what the condition of that building might be like... we've been stuck in the Manor rooms at Circus Circus so we prepared ourselves for the worst. However, other than one elevator out of order and the other one being slow, it was in good condition and the accomodations were quite comfortable.

It was 9:30 by the time we settled into our room. We only had food on our mind, it took a couple quick searches before deciding on Crab House on Pier 39. The F Street car stop is right out the door of the hotel, it was incredibly convenient. We hopped on that to take us down the wharf. The Crab House was very busy, they sat us in a side room that was later filled by a large party. We easily chose the crab dinner for two, and we started with crab cakes.

The crabcakes were crisp and full of delicious Dungeness crab. They whet our appetite for the feast that was about to ensue.

Yummy. Yum. Yum.

We devoured it. We were proud members of the clean plate club.

Only carnage remained.

We rolled ourselves out of the Crab House, walked around the pier a bit before taking the F Streecar to the end of the line. We went to Fiddler's Green, an Irish bar, which we liked last visit. I drank Trumer Pils and Frank had couple beers that I cannot recall. We closed out our tab and walked back to the hotel. We crashed with high anticipation for the next day.

Stayin' Alive

2011-11-14T12:36:00.000-08:00

We had a fantastic time in San Francisco, but before I tell you all about our trip, I'll share details of our dinner last night at Beso inside Crystals at CityCenter.

A couple months ago, I bought a travelzoo voucher which offered a champagne dinner for two for $79. With all the noise about bankruptcies at Eve and Beso. I was unsure how long the restaurant would be able to keep its doors open.

So far, so good. Beso is stayin' alive. They actually had a large crowd dining last night. I would not expect tables to be near capacity on a Sunday evening, but they did just that.

We received warm bread and soft butter to get us started. That's always a good combo, all too often we run into room temperature bread and ice cold butter.

With the voucher we had our choice of appetizer, two soups or salads, two entrees and a shared dessert.

We began with calamari. This was a good version, tender with a light crisp breading. Topped with tomatoes, peppers, cojita cheese and served with lime and two dipping sauces.

Next, we had the Beso Caprese with avocado and the seafood louie salad.

Frank's caprese was the better choice by far, there was nothing notable about the louie - at all.

Then, for entrees, Frank had the 16oz NY strip and I went with a 12oz filet. Both were really good, with a nice crust. Neither of us could finish. We haven't had that much red meat in a long while.

Dessert was churros with caramel sauce and chantilly cream. Yum! Not sure how, she can't possibly eat any of those recipes but Eva knows food... or at least, hired people that know food. I was pleasantly surprised.

Another Edition of Misc Monday

2011-11-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

I didn't think I'd take so long to make it back here. I have nothing too exciting to note. We've been hanging at home anticipating our trip to San Francisco. Cannot wait. Been trying our best to stay warm, it's been unusually cold. Brrr! Also, been dreading the darkness that comes with daylight savings. Why, oh, why can't we follow Arizona's footsteps? It was completely dark at 5 o'clock yesterday. These days are only going to get shorter. Boo. C'mon December 23, mama needs her sunshine. Just gotta get past the winter solstice.

This weekend our friends came up from Oceanside, CA. The Marine Corp ball was held at Planet Hollywood. We visited a bit, and then, they dressed in their best and had their first night away from their son, James. He will be two next month, so it's been a long time coming. James was a trooper away from mom & dad, he didn't make a single fuss. I was able to keep up with him pretty well given my bum ankle. The fun had with him has me even more excited for Nicky's visit. They arrive next week, weee!

Yesterday, we had lunch at D'Amore in the Miracle Mile shops. It's a chain based in LA, we met the owner, he told us all about his grandmother's recipes and how the secret is the water. They originally trucked it in from Boston, but now it all comes from Italy. Supposedly, the pizza has won awards for best pizza and healthiest slice. Compared to pizza I've had in Los Angeles, the pizza is decent, but once we start talking the whole country. Absolutely not. Cities across the country do better NY-style slices, including Las Vegas. That said, D'Amore's grandmother has some great recipes. The eggplant involtini stuffed with spaghetti is something special. I can't say it's worth a special trip, but if you're seeking a cheap bite while at Planet Hollywood this will hit the spot.

Last week, I meant to share photos of the room my mom had at Red Rock. She redeemed a comped night there after the fiasco at the Plaza. Her and Mike both enjoyed the upgrade and the awesome views (as did I), but took a beating in the casino. Those comped rooms are never free.

Plaza: Take 2

2011-11-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

You might remember me sharing my experience with Plaza's grand opening and my mention that my first impression was lipstick on a pig. Well, impressions have not changed. I never detailed the troubles my mom experienced during her stay, but it was a comedy of errors. My mom and Mike failed to find the humor, however. I don't blame them. They were shuffled around til the wee hours of the morning.

The first room, the one I saw, was actually occupied by other guests. They moved my mom to another room. There were no lights in the bathroom or sink area. The windows had film making it extremely dark. Front desk said someone would be right up. An hour later, it's midnight, btw, someone from maintenance shows and he says it's going to take him a while. She calls the front desk, it rings, rings and rings. No answer. He tries. No answer. He calls the operator, they were able to track down assistance. They give her a third room. She makes them meet her with keys rather than making the trek to the front desk again. It's well into the early morning she demands late check out for the inconveniences. After some probing, they agree. 2 o'clock late check out.

The third room is non-smoking, they tell her never mind it (as a non-smoker, I hate this) and they'll send housekeeping up with an ashtray. She waits and waits. She leaves and figures they can leave it in the room.

She playing slots in the casino early morning a man befriends her, interested in her play and wins. He roots her on, hooting and hollering. Then, asks for $5, cig and money again. Each time getting in her face. She's uncomfortable but no one is around, not security a waitress. No one. Finally, she cashed out and went directly to the cashier. She complained about the man and requested an escort to her room. Security showed and led her up without issue.

No ashtray in the room upon her return. She crashes as the sun comes up. Noon, housekeeping is pounding on the door. Check out was at 11:00.

She's disgusted, I don't blame her. I told her to ask for the hotel/operations manager. She did, she asked to have her stay refunded and for a $50 comp to Hash House A Go Go to compensate for the troubles. It was given to her.

You'd think that'd be the end of it, but it wasn't. They later charged her credit card for the stay. The credited her, and charged it again. They made a mess of her bill. After more complaint calls it was finally resolved and she was giving two free nights to come back and give them another try.

She cashed those two free nights in over the Halloween weekend. The first room they were given was dirty. Again! They offered a junior suite, but it was non-smoking. She wanted smoking. Rather than chancing another ordeal. She told them to send maid service up to clean the room. Of course, even that didn't go smoothly. In short, she ended up asking for another $50 Hash House A Go Go comp for the troubles. They honored her request again.

Saturday, I met her and Mike at the Plaza for lunch at HHAGG. The rooms now have soap and bed skirts. The hotel room window was clean. The pool was open. The ice machine on the 21st floor was not in order. Mike did find ice on the 24th floor. We walked from the room thru the casino to the restaurant. I had an asthma attack in the process. It seems they're now using that "air freshener" that some others use that stinks to high heavens. If they keep that up, I won't be able to step foot inside, just like at TI. After lunch, I walked back using the third floor access. The bingo hall has been updated and Exposed Salon is open for business... Skimpy outfits those hairdressers wear. I suppose that is the point.

Mom's forgiveness stay didn't sway her to return to the Plaza. In fact, even her HHAGG experience was an ordeal, but I'll get to that in a minute. She's going to use her next free stay (marketing offer) at Vegas Club. She's going to give them another shot over there, if they still can't provide her a stress-free stay. She'll cash in her points and stay & play elsewhere.

At HHAGG, Mike and I both got hash; corned beef for him and chorizo for me. They were good, better than usual, really, typically I hate their potatoes. These were flavorful and crisp. Mom got her usual, the pork tenderloin Benedict. The first few bites were fine, but as she sliced into the thicker part of the tenderloin it was raw. They offered to bring her something else, but she had lost her appetite. She asked if she could come back on Sunday (since she was staying the night) and have breakfast instead. The manager came over, apologized and offered that to her. She was sick overnight and into the morning. Still feeling queasy, she asked HHAGG to extend the offer until another visit. They were reluctant to do so. It took much convincing, but in the end they extended the replacement meal.

This has really snow balled into a nightmare. It really makes me long for the Plaza of yesteryear when Jackie ran the show.

Mad About Waffles?

2011-11-01T15:21:00.001-07:00

Are you mad about waffles? Then, I have the place just for you. Check out WaffleS Cafe on Fort Apache, just south of Tropicana. This cheery cafe has a walk up counter where you make your waffle dreams come true. You can choose your waffle and your topping(s) or choose from any of the existing combinations. Options range from the savory to the extremely sweet.

My mom and I had a late breakfast here on Sunday. They have a daily special for $5.49 that offers a waffle with eggs, bacon or sausage, and coffee. Fresh fruit and other waffle toppings are available for an additional fee. We both chose the breakfast special with bacon. Just fresh strawberries for me and butter for her. Eggs were fine, bacon was crisp, but a bit small. The waffle was great. It's nice and light, crisp, yet chewy and not doughy at all. The griddle marks are deep so your toppings melt right in. Coffee is self serve.

It's a nice option close to home. And it's worth the drive for any waffle fanatic.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T13:33:00.000-07:00

I did quite a bit of running around this weekend and visiting with my mom and brother. Frank and I also went to the Palms Saturday night to see Louis CK perform at the Pearl.

Years ago, we were big fans of "Lucky Louie" and we currently love "Louie" on FX. This was our first time seeing him live. He had no opening act, "he'd suck anyway," he said. He performed about 90 minutes, coming back for an encore, he said "I'll save myself $20,000 (beating at tables) and give you a few more minutes."

The show was funny. Supposedly, it was new material and it'll be out soon. I'm happy we saw him perform. However, it's doubtful we'd spend the coin to see him again.

The Palms was pretty tame with crowds and costumes. I figured majority of folks must be on the strip or at the Fetish & Fantasy ball. The ball moved from Hard Rock to South Point this year. Mike and my mom went over to people watch. Mike said that too was tame. Between the larger space and strict costume policies - no masks, weapons/ props, nudity, etc. it was pretty lame compared to the chaos at Hard Rock a couple years ago. They spent the rest of the night on Fremont. They enjoyed the crowds better there.

Hopefully, the strip saw their share of characters. Halloween has always been an awesome time in Las Vegas. I'd hate to see that change.

Um. Wow.

2011-10-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

Baseball has left me speechless this season. Every time I think there can't possibly be a more exciting game, there is another.

I've been completely impartial for the whole post season, but wow. I cannot imagine the excitement Cardinals fans felt last night. I hope they carry that positive energy to tonight's game 7. I'd like to see St Louis win. Have you heard about the guy who bet $250 for the Cards to win the World Series at 999-1 odds, back in September, at MGM Grand? That's who I am rooting for. A win like that will be great for Las Vegas and Nevada sportsbooks (even if MGM takes the hit, it's great publicity).

I hope Texas makes St. Louis work for it. I'd love to see another nail biter to seal this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G season.

Are you ready boot? Start walkin'

2011-10-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

Tired of this ankle saga yet? Yeah, me too.

In short, I met with the Ortho yesterday. I like that he sat with me and looked at the MRI images. Each one, he pointed to show what was normal and what was not. Based on my symptoms, he was quite pleased with the MRI results. With time and proper treatment, a complete recovery is expected. I have thickening of the achilles tendon, thinning of the ATF ligament and swelling & fluid around the peroneal tendon.

I believed it was my peroneal tendon that was giving me grief. That's where the majority of the pain is. It's where I swell most. It's where it's tender to the touch. The podiatrist completely dismissed it since it was not on the MRI report. I do not believe he ever reviewed the actual images.

After reviewing the images, and an exam, the ortho reccommended 3 weeks in the boot, to start - more depending, to immobolize the tendon. No PT or daily stretches, at most I can cycle with minimal impact. He believes the sprain was traumatic given my lengthy healing process and current symptoms. Also, he thinks PT started too early. He says that's often the case. Tendon issues like mine can swell for 3-4 months on average. They take time, even when treated spot on.

I made mention of the cortisone shot and he said they should be performed in a radiologists office with ultrasound so be certain that the proper injection point is located. If injected into the tendon it can cause tendon weakness. I wish I was informed before having my cortisone injection in the podiatrist's office. Lessoned learned, research before agreeing to most anything.

My boot had enough miles to get around San Diego, let's hope there's more left for San Francisco.

[tooz-dey]

2011-10-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

How bored does one have to be to wiki Tuesday?

In case you were dying to know, it's the day of the week occurring after Monday and before Wednesday. You're welcome.

There is little to report. I'm feeling stuck in a rut. Frank is back on a weight loss kick. A friendly wager with a co-worker is his motivation. I'm along for the ride. I need to shed ten pounds, eight of which, I've put on in the last 10 weeks while I've been a gimp. I can't get my heart rate high enough to burn any calories. Time on the treadmill and bike has zero resistance and little speed. There isn't much I can do without my ankle feeling like it's going to give out. What I can do usually results in it rebelling with swelling and achiness. Moving more is pretty futile right now, so eating less must be the answer. Today, I see the ortho for a second opinion. I'm hopeful that'll lift my spirits and renew my energy to deal.

Hmmm, what else?

I ordered the Sriracha cookbook. It's a favorite condiment and after a chat with Frank about needing more uses for it, I bought it on Friday. It arrived yesterday. Wicked fast free delivery from Amazon, by the way. One recipe is for sriracha butter, the coinciding tip is to melt the butter over popcorn and top it with parmigiano-reggiano. It sounded so good! Since we're counting calories, we skipped the butter and cheese, but popcorn and sriracha is indeed a winner.

This weekend Frank downloaded the Leroy's Betting Mobile App. It won't work on my phone since I'm with Boost, but apparently it works with every other major carrier. The app puts straight bets, parlays, teasers, in game betting, and more all at your fingertips. Sunday it worked well. He found placing halftime bets to be favorable. Yesterday, he had a parlay that needed the Ravens to cover to win $320. He attempted to hedge it, but the app failed to verify his location, despite dancing around outside, arm held up to sky to better transmit his position; it would not let him place the bet. I thought maybe it was sign he didn't need it. I was wrong. What a poor showing, I'm not sure I've ever seen so many loose balls. Lose.

In hopes to make this day pass a little quicker, humor me. If you could pick one fictional TV show hangout what would it be?

My pick? Paddy's Pub from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

"Join Us"

2011-10-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while scanning my google reader I came across a blurb from the LV Weekly that Evil Dead The Musical was playing at Onyx Theater. Onyx Theater? Hmmm, I couldn't place it. A quick search revealed it was over on the eastside in the commercial center plaza near the Green Door. The theater is attached to The Rack a fetish clothing store. We bought our tickets, only $15 each, and had a look around. Lots of leather, fetish wear, some gay porn and accessories.

The doors opened and we were able to take our seats. We had no expectations for the show, I hadn't heard a peep about it until reading the review yesterday afternoon. Being big fans of Army of Darkness we had to check it out. It was awesome. Clever, campy, hilarious and absolutely bloody. I thought only the splatter zone was in range of blood but nope, no one in the theater is safe. Of course, I wore white. Not smart. It was completely spattered when we left. It took a whole stain stick when I got home, when I pulled it out of the washer this morning it was brightly white no trace of blood. Best money we've spent in a while. Great production! It can be added to my list of favorite musicals. I needed a fun night out. Evil Dead The Musical delivered.

It wasn't til this morning that I learned that the funds needed to produce the show came from pledges made on Facebook. Once their goal of $3000 was reached director Sirc Michaels was able to bring the cult classic to the intimate 98-seat Onyx theater. The cast is great, especial Ben Stobber as Ash. I loved the transformation from S-Mart employee to superhero. Bruce Campell was channeled. My fond memories for the Sam Raimi trilogy flooded back and I was quoting the lines from Army of Darkness right along with Ash. It was "groovy", so go see who's evil now and check out Evil Dead The Musical. The show runs through October 31. Those of you not in Vegas should check local listings, I've heard other cities are currently running the production as well.

The saga continues

2011-10-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's appointment with the podiatrist provided me with good news and bad news. The good? He believes there is nothing keeping me from recovering. The bad? He can't "fix" it. It will take time. The MRI showed I have a chronic ankle sprain with thinning of the anterior talofibular ligament (apparently, the tendon is ok. That was thought to be the issue before). He suggests physical therapy. This is after 6 weeks of therapy and being told at the last appointment that he thought I wasn't responding to treatment.

I asked about future sprains. He says they are likely and a rupture is possible. He recommended I wear an ankle brace.

That's that, then? What about the swelling and bruising? "Not sure," he says, then adds "Keep it elevated, iced and continue to take ibruprofen."

Nothing else can be done? "I can give you a cortisone injection." HELL NO!

It is what is. I leave. Today, I scheduled an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankles. Tomorrow, I pick up Xrays and MRI films. Tuesday, I learn more.

Stubborn!

2011-10-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

So, this lovely ankle of mine is one stubborn pain in my... foot. After New Orleans, I did three more sessions of physical therapy. Swelling and bruising continued. I even started popping more blood vessels, my physical therapist thought it was due to the swelling. I kept up my dose of Ibuprofen 3x/day and I was seeing no improvement.

I had my follow up appointment with my doctor, last I was there was when I got the cortisone injection. I went in knowing something wasn't right. It had been over 8 weeks since my sprain and improvement was minimal. Most sprains heal in 6 weeks. I supposedly had a minor sprain. Yet, here I was, a mess: swollen, bruised and tender to the touch. I haven't made strides in PT, the cortisone shot was no help AT ALL. I wanted a MRI. Before I could even ask for one, my doctor suggested that was the next step. I was relieved. I was concerned I'd have to seek out another doctor at start at square one. He said the MRI will catch whatever he's missing, and we'll go from there. If the MRI comes back normal, all he can do is cast me to give the tendon time to heal. He's avoided doing it so far for obvious reasons, but since I haven't responded to other treatments that would be the next step. He also suggested I go to PT therapy twice a week, because I wasn't benefiting from the 3x/wk routine. I chose to cancel all my appts until I got results back from my MRI.

Swelling has reduced greatly since I stopped Physical Therapy. In turn, the discomfort has been far less. Achiness remains, as does the tenderness, and I still can't walk down stairs normally, but the reduced swelling is welcomed.

I had the MRI done last week. I see my doctor today for the results. I'm nervous, but anxious to find out what's up so I can get back to normal. I'm coming up on 10 weeks of gimpiness and to say I'm over it is an understatement.

I am fearful of what's next. November has shaped up to be extremely busy - San Francisco, Amy and Nicky's visit, Dirty Heads concert, my dad's visit, Thanksgiving, Black Friday shopping, and the weekend in Oakland/San Francisco. I need to be mobile.

Giggles & Chaos

2011-10-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

My sister and nephew's trip is less than a month away. For two weeks, my mom will have all three of her kids in the same state. It's been a long time since we've all been together. We've been looking forward to their visit. We miss the giggles and chaos that special little boy brings. It's hard to believe Nicky is going to be five in three short weeks. It does not feel like that long ago he was wee, snuggled on my shoulder in his little turkey outfit for Thanksgiving. I'm guessing this year it'll be hard for him to sit still. I'm betting there is so much going on in that mind of his. I'm anxious to see how much he's grown, and just to have a conversation with him. He's not too chatty on the phone these days. He always seems to have an excuse not to talk... "I'm too busy" or "I'm not in the mood" are what I hear most often. When Amy can wrangle him to talk, I'm lucky to get a few sentences out of him. So, it'll be nice to have face to face time.

It's been great spending time with Mike, it'll be nice to get time with my sister too. There might be seven and nine years between us, but we've always been pretty close despite the age gap. I'm always thankful for the time we can share together.

Next month, my dad is also coming to visit. This will be his second time visiting since I made Vegas home. The first was for our wedding. It was so chaotic, then, his visit was a whirlwind. He'll fly out a week after Amy and Nicky, and he'll be staying for a week. We'll all be together for Thanksgiving. We haven't had a holiday together since 1998. It'll be a first with Frank and Nicky. Hopefully, my dinner will come together as good as previous years. I'll have lots of mouths to feed, especially if Frank's side can join us again.

It's funny how my dad's trip came to be. It's the Raiders vs. Bears that's bringing him out west. Years ago, we had the idea of buying him tickets to see a Bears game, but he'd rather see the Bears at Raiders where it'd be warmer. He's been a Raiders fan as long as I can remember. I'm not sure how that came to be, it just always was. The match up is finally on the schedule Thanksgiving weekend. Mike, Amy, dad and me are going to drive up to San Francisco. See the sights on Saturday and then drive over to Oakland for the game on Sunday. Mom will stay home with Nicky. Frank might join us if we can snag cheap airfare and he can finagle time off, which isn't looking too good right now.

This should be one of those "life's greatest moments" for my dad. He's not one to get terribly excited for much, but Amy tells me he's excited for this. I figure it's the equivalent to when I flew out Mike, Amy and Nicky as a surprise for my mom's 50th. That had her beaming from ear to ear. I'd like to share an experience like that with my dad.

November has much to look forward to.

Rock Crawling & Desert Riding

2011-10-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend we got out to enjoy fresh air and desert riding. We met up with old friends (VV4W) for a pre-run for Hump & Bump. We used to do runs with these guys regularly in the Jimmy. They taught me the difference between off-roading and 4-wheeling. We loved rock crawling. Maybe someday we'll be flush with cash and we'll get the Jimmy in tip top shape to start crawling again. In the meantime, we love the RZR, we can't climb rocks like we did, but we make up for it with speed. I missed riding, boy, oh boy, it's gonna be a long winter! I'd like to fast forward football season so we can just get out there and play, but anyway...

The Jeeps ran a couple trails in Logandale, Rock Bottom and The Shredder. We followed taking the bypasses. Watching rock crawlers is nearly as fun as navigating. Adrenaline doesn't pump the same, but there is also no worry about breaking your rig. We enjoyed sitting back and watching them do their thing. I took photos and Frank captured video. In between trails, we'd zip around for our own fun. Then, after the Jeeps went home for the day we hit the dunes and flew through the wash. Good times!

October StrEATs

2011-10-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

Saturday night we went downtown for StrEATs. This month's food truck collection included trucks we haven't tried. Such as Sausagefest, Tastybunz and Sin City Wings.

We hit up Sausagefest first. With our southside roots, we couldn't help but put the Polish and Hot Italian to the test. Both measured up! I only wish the giardineria that they top the Italian with was hot. The Vietnamese rolls untraditional, but they totally work. It's a great bun to meat ratio. It's soft and chewy yet strong enough to hold all the tasty bites inside. The fries have skins and are fried crisp just like we could get back home, too. Rock on, Sausagefest! We'll be back for more.

Next up was Sin City Wings, I wanted to love it but I didn't. They drew a large crowd. After lengthy wait, we had grub in hand. I don't often like chicken on the bone, so we went with tenders. We couldn't decide on a sauce so we sprung for a second sauce for 50 cents and they left them naked. Armed with Feinberg and Hot Buffalo sauce we dug in.

The Hot Buffalo sauce was not terribly hot or tasty. After one dunk we stuck with the Feinberg, the spicy apricot was the way to go. However, while the breading is crisp is too thick. I prefer I much lighter coating. The homemade ranch is very watery and no better than most bottled versions. The addition of macaroni salad (watery) and bread (dry) seems like carb overkill. It seem like an afterthought, rather than a balanced combo.

Tastybunz was our last stop. We were pretty full but we saved enough room for the hot pig bun with jalapenos and pancetta and an order of the nutty professor with white chocolate and carmel sauce.

There are far more menu items to sample, but first impressions were promising. We liked the bun, it was a tasty snack you don't get every day. The nutty professor? Goodness, I'm in love. Nutter Butters are my favorite store bought cookie, I never once thought about deep frying them, but I'm glad TastyBunz did. I'm hooked.

The Price of Freedom

2011-10-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

Frank’s cousin and girlfriend were picking us up Tuesday morning at 9:30. We had to shower, dress and pack beforehand. We left our luggage with the bell desk. Mel and Jen arrived soon after. They took us to Elizabeth’s for breakfast which is not far from their house in Bywater. Elizabeth’s is known for Praline Bacon, and after one bite it’s easy to understand why. It’s smoky and savory with sweetness from what I believe is brown sugar. We also had grits and sausage biscuits and gravy. It was my first time having grits, there must be a pound of butter melted in there, but they were pretty tasty with Crystal hot sauce. I’ve never been a fan of biscuits and gravy, but I did like their biscuits they were more moist than most.

After breakfast, we went back to Mel & Jen’s place; they’re renting a shotgun home that was built in the 1740’s. Coming from Vegas, that’s hard to wrap my mind around. It was a cute home with a ton of character. The kitchen has reclaimed wood from old tug boats that ran down the Mississippi. Each of the shotgun homes was painted a variety of bright colors. Shutters were all a bit off kilter from weathering a few hundred years’ worth of storms. I’m glad we stopped by to see it.

Jen hung back at the house, while Mel drove us to the WWII museum. On the way, she pointed out the bridge that crosses over to the 9th ward, which was the area most affected by Katrina. Can you believe people are still waiting for FEMA money? Sad. Jen was telling us the school where she teaches is still using temporary trailers for classrooms. They are anticipating FEMA money soon, but rather than build an actual school the talk is they’ll be getting “nicer” trailers instead. Unreal.

We said, “Goodbye” to Mel and bought our tickets for the WWII museum. There is a movie to watch beforehand in a building across the street. This is also where John Besh’s American Sector is located. I wanted to try August, but AS was more convenient. Besh is one of the few celebrity chefs that haven’t hit Las Vegas, so trying one of his restaurants was a must for me.

We ordered crabmeat pies and creole corned beef. The crabmeat pies were best with ground mustard. The mustard helped cut the richness. The corned beef was extremely sweet like it had been cooked in root beer or Coke. Neither dish was bad, but they didn’t wow us either. The house made pickles to start were really good, though.

Timing worked out perfectly, we finished our snack and lined up for the WWII film, Beyond All Boundaries. It’s 4D, between that and the collection of actual accounts it was really well done. We walked over to the museum and walked the exhibits. It’s has a nice layout with a mix of storyboards, short films, audio and artifacts. Towards the end we passed a WWII vet that was visiting, overhearing his accounts was chilling. The museum is great reminder of the challenges our country faced and what we were able to overcome, and all that was sacrificed for the freedoms we have today. We were the youngest visitors by far. That saddened me.

After the museum, we walked over to Cochon Butcher. It was one place that wasn’t Cajun/Creole that I just had to try. It’s located in the Warehouse District, which seems to be one area of NOLA’s undergoing gentrification. We ordered the duck pastrami slider and the Gambino sandwich cotto salami, sopressata, capicola and fresh herb vinaigrette. Our order took forever, but it was worth the wait. Even if I did have to stare at dirty bare feet… One last rant, before I wrap this up, what’s the deal with all the bare feet? There’s no beach! We saw people all over the city without shoes… on Bourbon, Decatur, Jogger on St. Charles, this lady in Cochon Butcher. Gah. Gross. Back to the sandwiches, the sliders were more like grilled cheese. Salty, grilled cheese. The duck on its own was really tasty, I wish it was paired with a less salty cheese because it was overpowering. The Gambino was a yummy Italian mix, the bread was equal to the rest of its parts. I was appreciative.

We left Cochon Butcher and walked back to the Quarter via Tchoupitoulas St. It was an enjoyable stroll.

Ha!

Couldn't leave without a photo of one of the hundreds of Popeye's in NOLA.

Or some random beads strewn about.

We returned to the hotel, with nothing left that we had to see and bellies too full to eat anymore, we called for a taxi and went to the airport. I didn’t realize the taxi ride was a flat fee of $33, I thought we’d save money by beating rush hour, but it mattered none. Getting back home was a breeze. The flight back had 50 or so people so there was plenty of room. We had a beautiful sunset when leaving MSY the orange glow reflecting off the swamps below was breathtaking. It was a nice send off.

We had heard Vegas had been inundated with storms while we were away, but I didn’t expect the cool air. The day before we left for NOLA it was triple digits, it was 67 degrees when we got home Tuesday night. That’s one helluva swing. Who’s the Grinch that stole summer?

Gone Swampin'

2011-10-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

Monday we were up early, we wanted to grab breakfast before the tour bus picked us up at 8 o’clock. Frank went off in search of grub while I got ready. He came back with a sausage biscuit and croissant from PJ’s. He thought it’d be better than McDonald’s or Krystal. Sad to say but I think Mickey D’s might have been best.

We went down to wait for our ride to the swamp. We had no idea what to expect, when I made the reservation all I received was a confirmation email of the 9:40am tour with 8am pick up. 15 minutes went by and we were beginning to wonder if someone was coming for us. I called Louisiana Tour Company and I was told “no need to worry, sweet baby girl.”

We watched the water trucks come and go and the sidewalks had been hosed by the time our driver arrived. It was a nice bus, with a/c that worked too well on this cool morning. We made our rounds to the remaining hotels and then we were off to the Bayou.

It was wild to see the swamp people’s homes and piers along the road side. I’ve seen sheds larger than these shacks. It’s definitely a different way of life. I was uncertain what we were in for when it came to the airboat swamp tour. But once we came upon the Barataria swamp, homes were just what you’d expect. It looked like a neighborhood in any other city… only this one is surrounded by swamp.

We waited to board our airboat. There were two groups taken out: five in our boat and four in the other. We had two single ladies that became fast friends because they were both scared of… well, pretty much everything. I shared the row with them, a couple from New Zealand rode in front and Frank was in back with our Captain, Captain Be-bop. Before long we were off on our adventure.

The airboat topped out about 35 mph, you get a nice breeze and surprisingly you don’t get wet. Our first stop was to see Marshmallow Bob. He got his name from a tourist, named Bob, who refused to stay seated and fell overboard and landed on the marshmallow loving alligator.

I love seeing animals in their natural habitat so this was a real treat.

We continued on and enjoyed the ride and Captain Be-bop taught us all about life in the swamp. He’s fourth generation swamper. He spent his youth catching snakes and gators. It was surprising to hear he had a fear of spiders. But when I learned they were camel spiders and brown recluse I understood. He taught us swamp survival skills and about the plants that are native to the area and those that are not.

We came to the marsh and we learned that this is where the alligators come to lay eggs. The alligator farmers – that aid in the keeping the gators from being extinct – hire the swampers to collect the eggs each spring. Captain Be-bop was a wealth of information and welcomed our questions. He brought out his pet baby gator for us to hold. Then, he demonstrated that you can easily lull a gator to sleep by rubbing the top of his head.

Further along the tour we saw a couple more gators, one was a big boy about 12 feet. He wasn’t interested in snacking on marshmallows but he did come over and say hi. Meanwhile, a smaller gator came over for a snack. They are really beautiful creatures. I’m glad we were able to experience close encounters in their natural habitat.

The tour was over much too soon. We really enjoyed our time out. It was a highlight of our trip. If I ever return to NOLA I hope to spend more time swampin’. We waited for the tour bus to take us back to the quarter. Rather than dropping us off at our hotel, we joined others and were dropped off at Jackson Square.

We were in search of lunch. My original plan had us at August or Commander’s Palace, but we didn’t get back early enough to take advantage of the lunch specials. The list of eats I compiled before the trip were scratched when we tired of fried foods and learned we didn’t much care for $10-$15 po-boys. So much for a poor man’s food!? That was really the case across the board. Take red beans and rice for example, can you get much cheaper? These restaurants are making a killing at $15 for an entrée.

But I digress, we needed food, we grew tired of wandering so we went back to Coops Place. We started with the Duck Quesadilla this time, then Frank ordered Red Beans and Rice with two pieces of Fried Chicken. I had the shrimp creole.

Our meal was tasty, we really enjoyed the Duck Quesadilla. It was definitely different and it offered a nice blend of sweet heat. The Red Beans and Rice weren’t as good as Saturday night’s. Different chef, maybe? The Shrimp Creole and Fried Chicken were just as good, however.

We went to Café Du Monde for dessert. I was told it’s an absolute must. It wasn’t clear how to order, we took a seat but no one came. Just as we were about to give up a waiter asked if we had been helped? “No.” He sent a waitress over. We ordered Café Au Lait and beignets.

Thankfully, they brought water too. The coffee was much too hot to drink and it’s much too rich and sugary without something to wash it down. I know it’s probably sacrilege to say, but I didn’t much care for them. But I'm sure there's a great Charlie Sheen joke to be had with all that powdered sugar.

We walked over to Jackson Square next. I took photos and we sat under a gorgeous Oak Tree while Frank drank his coffee. I took a sip, it was too sweet and milky for me. I like coffee black on the rare occasion I drink it.

I wanted to ride the streetcars so we made our way over to the Riverfront line. We saw Satan picnicking while we boarded. Glad to see he was enjoying the weather, too.

The Jazzy pass for unlimited rides is $3 and I don’t understand why more people don’t go that route considering a one-way ride is $1.25. We rode down to the Canal line and took it to its end at the Cemeteries. I wanted to see what it was like to see tombs rather than being buried six feet under. We had a leisurely stroll through the cemetery. Entire families were buried in each plot. I’ve heard of such a thing, but it was the first time I had really seen it.

We took the Canal streetcar back to the quarter to catch the St. Charles line. There it was! That awful stench. You forget how horrid it is until you leave and come back to it. We rode down St. Charles, back Uptown, the part of NOLA I really enjoyed.

I was already hungry, rice just does not keep me full for long. Frank suggested we find something around the college, “there must be good food.” He ran the app to see what’s nearby… a hundred different pizza places. No dice. He then, turned up the St. James Cheese Company. We had a winner. We were missing cheese. We had to get back on the streetcar to get there and then walk a couple blocks, but it was well worth the effort. We came upon a cute little neighborhood with tree lined streets dotted with mom and pop shops. That’s one of the greatest things about NOLA. Corporate chains haven’t taken over the market place – well, except for the Popeye’s on nearly every corner. The little guy is still thriving.

We ordered two sandwiches at St James: the Cuisimano with Italian meats and the Beecher’s Cheddar with turkey, basil, tomato and avocado. I ordered the house salad with mine which was arugula with light vinaigrette and Frank tried the house chips.

I was so happy to bite into green with crunch. Vegetables I had been eating had been cooked down and had no bite left. The chips were good, too. Crunchy, not greasy. The sandwiches were top notch except for the bread. It was too dense and overpowered the tasty fresh toppings. I ate mine open faced and it proved to provide a better balance of ingredients.

We walked back to the St Charles line and rode it down to Bourbon Street. We walked back to the hotel and rested a bit. We had been going non-stop all day. We showered and napped a bit before heading back out. We popped in and out of a few bars looking for the ideal one to enjoy MNF and a couple beers. Monday night football is not a draw in New Orleans. We bellied up to the bar at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. We ordered an Abita Wheat and Amber. I was surprised the Wheat was actually a lager, I liked it quite a bit and switched to it. We stayed until halftime. When the bartender heard we were from Vegas he suggested we go to the Frenchman’s Street for something we can’t get back home. He said Bourbon Street was for frat boys and this was where it was at. It sounded great so we moseyed on over.

We enjoy live music, but the overall vibe was not one we cared for. At the very least it felt like we needed whacky tobacky to fit in. I was hungry yet again and we didn’t see a spot for grub so we bailed and found ourselves back near Jackson’s Square only majority of the places were closed. Including the one spot, I thought we might check out with a shrimp and crab boil, even if it had less than stellar reviews. Frank remembered a Sports Bar we tried to get into on Sunday, but was packed to the gills so we didn’t stay. He suggested we go there, watch the rest of the game and grab a bite. I had no better idea and I was tired of walking. My ankle was screaming for rest.

The place was Huck Finn’s and it was dead. We were the only customers. Probably not a good sign, but they had the game on and the kitchen was serving food. We hadn’t yet tried fried pickles so we got an order of those to start. They didn’t come with a sauce so Frank made his own with ketchup and Tabasco. I gotta say it wasn’t bad.

As for the entrees, Frank had a hankering for Louisiana hot sausage all trip and finally found it on a menu. He got the hot sausage po-boy. It wasn’t hot nor very good sausage.

I wanted to try alligator and I finally found it, too. I had the sautéed alligator in a spicy Cajun sauce with tomatoes, jalapenos, sautéed onions, bell peppers and celery.

The flavor of the medley was fine, but the gator? Holy moly was it dry. It does in fact taste like chicken. Really, really, dry chicken. We paid the tab and wandered back out to the streets of the Quarter.

No bars grabbed us. Frank suggested we get a daiquiri. When in Rome, right? I forget which one we went into but we sampled a couple flavors. It was only the margarita that I could choke down. I just can deal with that hard alcohol mixed with sugary sweetness. He bought the smallest they had which was still $9. We walked Bourbon Street for one last time. The neon reminded me of home, but really it only made me miss it. I did not like the hawkers or the drunks. The talent to bring you in the clubs was laughable. I’ve been in Las Vegas so long, I’m totally jaded when it comes to half naked women. And the smell? I just couldn’t get past it. I cannot even fathom how bad it must be on a hot & humid day. I did learn that Mermaids and La Bayou on Fremont St are pretty authentic. They’ve been able to replicate (albeit to a lesser degree) the rank stench of alcohol induced vomit and bleach found all over Bourbon Street. Frank turned to me and asked, “Where to?” It mattered none to me. I was over it. I wished I could handle getting back out to Magazine Street, because I liked what I saw there and it would’ve been nice to explore. But I couldn’t rely on my feet to get me there. My ankle was simply too pissed. Needless to say we returned to the hotel.

Boobs, Beer and Bears!

2011-10-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday I woke up exhausted and fought for however many extra minutes of shut eye I could manage. I froze all night - between sleeping with my foot on ice, the ceiling fan which I could not figure out how to turn off and my dear husband taking the covers for himself leaving me with just a sheet - my teeth chattered all night.

Frank had showered and I thought I’d finally make the effort to get up, but a Charlie horse from hell had me violently thrusting back n forth trying to control the intense pain from the spasms in my left calf. When it was finally over, I couldn’t bear to move. I laid in bed and Frank left for coffee.

He came back with a look of disgust and a tasty granita from PJ’s. He told me the tale of the business owners around Bourbon Street attempting to wash “the sin” away by hosing the filth out into the streets. He said his walk was completely nauseating. Who knew the Charlie horse from hell would be the win? I hobbled out of bed feeling aches and pains radiating from my ankle, and now, my calf. Lovely.

We were in search of food. I thought it was time we get our hands on a muffuletta, but when I checked the address for Central Grocery I learned it was closed Sundays and Mondays. Boo. A quick search revealed Johnny’s Po-Boys a tasty alternative. It was recently featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” Sold! We were off.

The restaurant was crowded, but a line was just starting to form. I secured a table, while Frank placed the order. He got Johnny’s special and biscuit sammie for him and a toasted muffuletta for me since that’s supposed to be “best.” We waited and waited, our number was called, and I asked Frank if he wanted a hand? “Nah.” Famous last words, he got nudged on his way back to the table. All the sandwiches splattered into a million pieces. I attempted a save, much too late and only protected a slab of hot meat from hitting the floor. We cleaned up the mess one napkin at a time. A sweet southern lady beside us gave us a sympathetic look combined with a “bless your heart.” Once the bulk of the mess was clean Frank went up to the counter explained what happened and they fired up a replacement, only Frank forgot to mention the biscuit. It might have just been the best thing ever, but we’ll never know. We dug into our sandwiches after we safely secured them at the table. Attempt two was far more successful.

The eats, however, were not. I ate a quarter of muffuletta so I could take Ibuprofen, but I didn’t like it. Not being a fan of olives I didn’t expect to love it, but I had to try. The meats failed to impress, my kindest words go out to the bread. Frank didn’t love his po-boy either. The roast beef was dry and bland despite the addition of gravy. We were raised on Chicago Italian beef – roast beef never measures up, we should know better.

We walked up towards the Riverfront and walked along the Mississippi. It was like seeing an old friend. We’ve camped along the river in Iowa and we’ve seen it up near St. Paul, MN.

We took the riverwalk which led us to Harrah’s. We went inside and had a look around. It was nice, nicer than casinos in East Chicago, Reno, Laughlin and Vegas. After a quick lap, we left; we didn’t come to waste away in a casino. We walked down Canal Street and popped in and out of souvenir stores in search of sunglasses. I forgot to pack two things, I bet you can guess one; the other was umbrellas which thankfully were never needed. We came up empty, but scored later at CVS.

It was getting close to game time so we wandered the quarter in search of the Bears game.

Finding any game besides the Saints was tough enough, the Bears seemed near impossible. We found it at Rick’s Saloon. Yes, that’d be a strip club. I looked over the beer list and saw that pints were $8.00. I thought it could get pricey so we moved on thinking we might find a bar on Decatur. We did find an Irish bar. It even had the Bears game, but it was packed there were no seats left. We stayed for a beer: Abita Amber, me and Abita Fall Harvest, him.

We wandered a full loop and ended up back at Rick’s. We met fellow Bear fans, we had a TV to ourselves and it turned out Abita Amber was on special during the games, 2 for $9. Boobs, beer and Bears! We were set, with comfy chairs, too. So, we didn’t come to waste away in a casino, but we did in a strip club. How I love the irony. We had a great afternoon! Bears won, Detroit even snagged a win. We shared a cigar. The women’s bathroom was clean and large. I was so impressed. More often than not, if I want to use the bathroom in a strip club, I use the one the strippers use. It’s never been pretty. All the games ended, Green Bay was up next beers had been flowing, I was in need of food. Frank was feeling pretty good, too. Our new friends recommended Muriel’s but it was upscale so we nixed it.

We ended up at Deanie’s Seafood. We had boiled potatoes to start – that was a first. Frank ordered the crab au gratin and I opted for BBQ Shrimp pasta.

Both were good, just not particularly noteworthy. We paid our tab and went back to the hotel. I wanted sleep and I chills I could not contain.
Frank looked for another place to grab a bite while I dozed off and on still unable to shake the chills. He dragged me from bed and we went to Desire on Bourbon St. It’s hard to take any white table cloth type place seriously when the Bourbon St madness is happening right outside. We start with Oysters Desire. I opt for Turtle Soup not being terribly hungry and I hoped it’d warm me up. Frank tried their version of Jambalaya.

The oysters were tasty, I think I prefer them baked to freshly shucked. I wasn’t a fan of the turtle soup. There was something about it that reminded me of Chili and I hate chili. The waiter brought over a shot of brandy and it helped it none. I did not like Frank’s Jambalaya either. He agreed he liked my Zatarain’s with LA Red Hots version better.

We went back to the hotel to watch the rest of the Sunday night game. I climbed under the covers, I still could not kick the chills. Frank asked if I wanted to head back out or sleep? I voted for sleep. I’d give you my list of excuses, except I know, I’m lame.

A scent you wish you could forget

2011-10-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning we left Las Vegas and arrived in New Orleans late afternoon. The flight out was pretty uneventful, most notable thing was I was sandwiched in the middle the seat and I sported so much cleavage while reading my book I felt like I got an instant boob job. Downside was a killer back ache.

We were afraid of the weather - hot, humid, rain or hurricanes were likely - but it was beautiful! Every. Single. Day. It never rained, humidity was low and the temperatures were just right. We really lucked out.

My friend, Andie, was a sweetheart and picked us up, we weren't sure we were in the right spot, but we found her quickly. She began our tour, first stop was the spillway, we passed oil refineries and we had our first swamp sighting on the way. The spillway is similar to our flood channels only on a much grander scale.

We were starved so we made a pit stop at the Seafood Pot. Drive-thru daiquiris kill me, but they're apparently the norm in NOLA. We resisted the temptation, and stuck with a couple of po-boys. We tried the catfish and crab cake, both "dressed" with mayo, tomato and lettuce. We also shared an order of sweet potato fries. Andie was good and stuck with boiled shrimp salad.

It was our first time having catfish, it was tastier than I'd expect. My crab cakes were heavy on the mayo, but otherwise good. We were big fans of the bread. It was sturdy, yet light and airy.

Bellies full, Andie took us to her house. Scott was home with Andrew. At 6 weeks old, Andrew was totally into football, never too young to start! Lovely home and even more lovely family. We pressed on, I didn't want to check into our hotel too late for fear of getting whatever happened to be left, rather than the king we reserved. We saw two plantations: Ormond and Destrehan. Since Andie was a tour guide years ago she filled us in on details usually provided on the paid tour.

Ormond's architecture is the French West Indies style. It first produced indigo, then became a sugar plantation. Today, it's a bed & breakfast and the setting for many weddings.

Oh! And the oak trees? They are beautiful! Even with all the Spanish moss.

Destrehan Plantation is an antebellum Greek Revival house built by a free man of color, beginning in 1787. It was originally intended as an indigo plantation, but it later became the leader in sugar production. Old refineries and an old legend that Jean Lafitte had hidden treasure in the house led to the manor's demise. American Oil later donated the property to the Historical Society. They have restored it and operate tours today.

After the plantations Andie took us into the city, specifically Uptown. We went by the zoo, Loyola and Tulane. Then we cut over to Magazine Street, which was having an some sort of Art Open House. The homes were lovely and I admired all the iron work as we drove by. And the porches, wow. Restaurants and bars had open patios which was unexpected, I thought the weather would keep people indoors, but I was wrong. Outdoor patio dining was abundant all over the city. We crossed the Central Business District and I found a peculiar building I took a liking to that resembles (IMO) and air-traffic control tower - I later snapped a photo, and learned the building has been closed for some time.

I've since researched it and it is the Plaza Tower. It's the third largest tower in NOLA. It was built as residences and office space, but the building's been sealed off and unused since 2002. The culprit? Toxic mold and asbestos. Leave it to me to find the "gem" of the bunch. Eh, at least it's not just Las Vegas with useless real estate just waiting to be unloaded.

Andie finished our tour by dropping us off at our hotel, Prince Conti. It's about a 1/2 block from Bourbon St and it is very affordable. Accommodations were comfortable given the price, all except the pillows, that is. They're in desperate need of replacement. We unpacked and relaxed a bit before heading out.

I'm glad we did. Bourbon Street was a madhouse. This was just Saturday night, I cannot imagine what Mardi Gras must be like. We walked toward Canal St and we quickly learned that the sidewalks are a death-trap, or at the very least a good way to break an ankle or lower limb. I spent the rest of the trip watching my feet to be sure each step was a safe one. Coming back down Bourbon St we caught the first good whiff of the nasty stank that permeates the air. It's an unwelcomed blend of vomit, hard alcohol and bleach. We'd soon learn the bleach stench was stronger during the day and the vomit rank dominated the night.

Between the crowds and the smell we wanted off Bourbon Street. We wandered for a convenience store to buy water. It proved to be far more difficult than I imagined. Finally, we found one on Dauphine/Toulouse. $2.50 bottle of Smart Water seemed anything but at that moment, but I was parched and didn't much care.

With hydration out of the way, it was time for sustenance. We went to Coops Place on Decatur. The walk over was filled with colorful characters. One wanted to arm wrestle Frank for a dollar. No one asked us about our shoes, to our dismay. We walked into the restaurant, but we were promptly snapped at and told to wait in line outside. "Okay, sorry." Since there wasn't one, we started it. Crowds draw crowds and soon we were very thankful that we had good timing. We snagged a table squished along the back wall. Coops is known for Jambalaya and it was the single most dish I looked forward to. I've only known what I make at home with Zatarain's and I yearned for the real thing. I ordered the taste plate which comes with a cup of Seafood Gumbo, Shrimp Creole, Cajun Fried Chicken, Red Beans & Rice with Sausage, and Rabbit & Sausage Jambalaya. Frank had the Cajun Fried Chicken, their other famous, possibly more famous, menu item. We washed it all down with Abita Amber, which became a quick favorite.

It was dark so the only food photo that resembled food was the seafood gumbo. Which was tasty with okra, shrimp, crabclaw, and oyster.

It was a great surprise that I hated the Jambalaya. It wasn't the rabbit or sausage I disliked it was the rice itself, it was mush. Suddenly, my world was turned upside-down, because I liked the red beans and rice. A dish I was sure I would not like. It is only been with minestrone soup that I'll tolerate beans. Any other preparation, type or whatever, no bueno! Red beans and rice are good! The rice and sausage hide the texure I don't like and the seasonings are powerful enough to give it flavor. Chicken is my least favorite protein, I'm not particularly fond of meat on the bone, but I can enjoy it if the meat it tasty enough to make it worthwhile - BBQ ribs, bone-in pork or steak, lamb chops. Chicken tenders and boneless buffalo wings are my pick for fried cluckers. I have no wide experience with fried chicken, but Coops was very good. The breading was flavorful and it seasoned the juicy chicken meat down to the bone, not just the skin. Shrimp Creole was new to me and I liked it best, it's simple enough with shrimp in a spicy sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, green peppers, and seasonings. Served over rice.

After dinner, we walked the Quarter a bit before settling on an empty-ish bar on Bourbon Street. No gimmicks, just a bar with beer on tap. Our kind of place. Frank went with LA-31 Bière Pâle and I had Abita's Golden. Good stuff. We thought we'd bar hop a bit, but we never came upon another one that grabbed us. We were over the crowds (we get enough of those at home) and my ankle was crying out for ice, so we went back to the hotel and called it a night.

1,001 Ways to Break An Ankle

2011-10-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

The streets of NOLA are treacherous, well, more specifically the sidewalks. I knew walking was going to be a challenge, but I never anticipated to what extent. There are at least 1,001 ways to break an ankle. There are cracks, missing bricks, loose cobblestone, potholes, sewer caps, and the list goes on and on. I spent 99% of my time in NOLA watching my feet to make sure every step was a safe one. Since it was a large part of my trip, I decided to document a small sampling during a stroll from Canal St to Bourbon St.

It appears it's been 27 years since sidewalks were last improved. Overdue? Yeah, I'd say so.

Despite all the obstacles, I'm happy to report no additional injuries. Frank also fared well considering. Actual trip details and photos to come.

5 Best Decisions

2011-09-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

We fall down and get back up many times in our lives. Have you taken the time to reflect on those decisions made. You know, the good, the bad, the ugly?

Today, let's focus on the good.

If you had to name your 5 best decisions made as an adult, what would they be?

Mine are choosing Frank, following my dream of life in Las Vegas, quitting smoking, bailing on real estate by renting, and making traveling a priority.

He Gone!

2011-09-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

The timing of the news that the White Sox released Ozzie Guillen was quite ironic. Frank and I were sitting at the Yard House enjoying dinner and Kronenbourgs, after watching Moneyball at Rave Theaters. The solid theme throughout the film is the lure of baseball isn't the money, but the romance.

Here we have a manager and team parting ways over money. The romance must be lost in Chicago.

Guillen is a colorful character. He's known to speak his mind, and he sugar coats nothing. Many hate him for this very reason. I, on the other hand, respect the guy. He led our 2005 White Sox to victory, without him I might not have gotten to experience what it feels like to be World Champs. Several seasons have come and gone since then; Ozzie and crew have not been able to replicate that charisma that we had that awesome season. I'm not opposed to change, especially when things aren't working. I wish Ozzie well in Florida (or wherever he ends up). I'm doubtful they'll be able to handle him, though.

Meeting Jose

2011-09-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Friday night, Frank got hung up at work and had to cancel on our plans last minute. For a brief minute, I considered not going to the "Cocktails with Jose Andres" event at China Poblano. But rather than resting my sore ankle at home, I decided to live a little and went solo. Immediately upon entering, I was welcomed with a Bombay Sapphire Gin & Tonic adorned with a ice sphere, verbena, juniper berries and elderflower. It was beautiful.

Fortunately, I found a table of familiar faces - a group I've met at previous Yelp events were already noshing on bites from the kitchen. Servers came by with a variety of dishes at rapid pace. I tasted eight in all. The carnitas taco and guacamole were my favorites. I also enjoyed the chicken jisong a very tasty version of lettuce wraps. Those I liked the least were the 'Don't be Jealous' hot and sour soup and the taco barbacoa was too salty for my liking. Other bites such as sui mai beef, lemon tree shrimp and rou jai mo street sandwich fell somewhere in between. It was fun to experience the connection between East and West through China Poblano's menu.

There were plenty of local celebrities in attendence. I caught glimpses of Norm Clarke, Al Mancini and Kerry Simon. I did have the opportunity to meet Jose Andres. As tasty as the bites were that was the real treat.

It's Friday, Friday

2011-09-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

Gotta get down with fall day. So long summer, you will be missed. I'm thrilled Mother Nature is looking out for me by making this whole change of season thing a bit easier. It's bright and sunny, and we should reach triple digits; they're calling for a high of 101 today. I'll take it!

This crazy week is nearly over. Weekend plans are pretty calm. Tonight, we're checking out a VIP/media invite over at Cosmopolitan, "Cocktails with Jose Andres" at China Poblano. He's a highly renowned Spanish chef, we haven't yet tried any of his restaurants, but both Jaleo and China Poblano sound intriguing. I hope we'll get to sample some eats at the event. The rest of the weekend will be pretty low-key, we have a house-warming party to attend, and Sunday, I'll drive out to Pahrump to visit with mom and Mike.

I need to firm up plans for our New Orleans trip. We'll be at the airport boarding our departing flight before I know it. I'm so looking forward to it. I'm ready to get away.

San Francisco is to follow in November. If that's going to happen I'll need to secure hotel reservations.

The big news of late is Amy and Nicky are coming for a visit. They'll get in Nov 16 and stay until Nov 29. This means Thanksgiving will be our first holiday together as a family. We'll also be celebrating Nicky's 5th birthday and Christmas while they're here. Fun times are ahead. Maybe fall isn't so bad?

Limbo

2011-09-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

What a week?! I feel ragged. I swear I'm in my own version of 127 Hours I might not be stuck between a rock and a hard place, but I have contemplated cutting off a limb. Dramatic? Yeah, probably.

Still my mom has had a worse week. She was supposed to have surgery to repair two hernias on Tuesday. Due to lack of insurance, medicare red tape and other non-sense. She's waited a year. Hernias shouldn't have birthdays, but my parents have made a habit of it. Mom's is the baby at just a year. I'm pretty sure Dad's hernia celebrates its ninth birthday this year. I wish I was kidding, but I'm not. Frank told me yesterday if a hernia is ever an issue for me, I'm having emergency surgery, even if it means he does it himself. His point is well taken, hernia's shouldn't have birthdays. Anyway, my mom was prepped for surgery and ready to be led into the OR. The Anesthesiologist and the Surgeon chatted, and based on her EKG they called off the surgery. They pulled out her IV, had her dress and sent her on her way with orders to follow up with a cardiologist. She understands and appreciates their concern, but it was mighty frustrating to make all the plans and arrangements for surgery and recovery to only gain a few bruises from the experience.

She'll see a cardiologist today. I imagine they'll do a stress test and EKG. Hopefully, all will look ok and the abnormal EKG at the hospital was a fluke caused by the anxiety of the surgery. She's been uncomfortable for a long time. I'd hate to see her stuck in limbo.

Discouraged

2011-09-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

With vacation looming, I'm more anxious than ever to get my ankle back to normal. Well, what I know to be normal. I know it'll never be as good as new. I'd like to pick up pace, walk down stairs and get around without pain or swelling.

I saw my doctor on Monday. He ordered three more weeks of physical therapy, prescribed ibuprofen and determined my tendons are extremely inflammed. I asked if I could resume exercise, I was shot down. "Absolutely no treadmill," I was told. The elliptical is a possibility, if there is no pain and I use no incline or resistance. He injected me with cortisone to reduce the inflammation. I was told I should feel improvement in 48-72 hours and I was told return in three weeks.

The injection was very uncomfortable, but over quickly so I didn't squirm for long. I went home and made dinner as usual. As the night wore on, my foot swelled and felt very heavy. It became painful and extremely difficult to walk. About 9 o'clock, I took a strong dose of ibruprofen, went to bed and iced the injection site to bring down the swelling. I prayed for sleep, but it was after midnight before I was able to drift off.

Waking up yesterday morning, I felt a bit better. My foot no longer felt like there was a 55-lb weight attached to it. It was about 20 pounds lighter, but still very tender, and walking was a difficult task. Walking is an overstatement, all I could do was hobble. I elevated and iced it all morning, by afternoon I was able to get some swelling down. I went to my PT appt as scheduled. What a waste! They added new exercises, but I couldn't even do majority of the old ones. All I did was 10 minutes on the bike, heel raises, ABC's and stood on my right foot for 30 second invervals, 4x. That last one was new, I was shaky and had to grab on for balance. No ultrasound was done and they could hardly work on me for massage. They did suggest I try the treadmill. I told them no per doctors orders. Also, talking with my physical therapist he sees one success for every failed cortisone shot. I feel so discouraged. I feel like a guinea pig with no end in sight. I'm hopeful the cortisone works as it should, I hate to see it cause regression. Either way, I'm not doing another one, so I certainly hope it allows me to move on. Techinically, I should notice a difference as early as tonight, if not tomorrow. I'm skeptical. Today's only improvement is less swelling and tenderness at the injection site. The tendons themselves feel no different. Phooey.

The Big Easy

2011-09-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

Our trip to New Orleans is less than two weeks away. Where, oh where, has time gone? This trip has snuck up on me. Really, I think I'm just in denial that fall is around the corner. In my mind, I thought New Orleans - Fall. But those thoughts are dulled by little voices screaming, "No summer! Don't go! Stay! Pretty pretty please." However, in just three short days fall will be here. There's not a thing I can do to stop it.

At least I can drown my sorrows in happy thoughts of visiting a new city. This will be our first visit to New Orleans. It'll be my first encounter with southern culture. I've only been to Florida before, Frank has driven down to Georgia from Chicago - many years ago, he visited a friend at the AFB there. Robins, maybe? - so he has more of an idea of what to expect.

Our hotel is a half block from Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. We should be convenient to the sights, nightlife and streetcars. I see us becoming pretty familiar with the streetcars. We'll need to take them to get a few restaurants on our list. We plan to stick to local cuisine. I want muffaletta (Central Grocery) and po'boy (Domilse’s) sandwiches. I want real jambalaya (I hear Coops is good) and gumbo (Commander's is supposed to be the place). I desperately want to try John Besh's Restaurant August, and since I never got to Commander's Palace while they were here in Vegas I feel I must try the original location.

I'm interested to see the city's architecture, the historic homes and mansions. I suspect we might see a plantation, as well. We anticipate sights such as the cemeteries, St. Louis Cathedral and the French Market. And to make the experience complete we plan to take an airboat swamp tour. I imagine we'll find ourselves in a live music bar at some point, too.

Do you have a favorite restaurant or must see? Let's have it.

What the hell?

2011-09-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

When did boxing become a love fest with kisses and hugs?

Did you see the Mayweather vs. Ortiz fight? Did it stun you, too? I know we were all gathered around the tv and "wtf" was yelled out in unison. What just happened?

I've been geared up for the fight thanks to HBO's 24/7. They do such a great job with that series. I know Mayweather has his haters, sure he's cocky, he's been accused of questionable things, but truthfully I only care what he does in camp and in the ring. I think he's a great boxer, definitely, the best I've seen in my life time. With an undefeated record (now 42-0), you can't name a better performing athlete. His ability is as remarkable as his cockiness. He's a showman. He talks the talk, but also walks the walk. I can't fault him. Beneath that swagger, he does have heart. He's my fighter of choice.

I had no doubt Ortiz would lose, but I really thought the fight would be a minimum of ten rounds and Mayweather by decision would be most likely. I figured Ortiz could throw a good punch, and I believe he can. I just felt he'd fall short on speed and accuracy against Mayweather. That he did. What I never counted on was Ortiz's headbutt, followed by a kiss or his deer in headlights "hug it out" approach in round 4. This isn't a make out session, you're in the ring. Just like there's no crying in baseball, there's no room for hugs or kisses in the ring. It's him or you, you always protect yourself. Period. Ortiz ignored the number one rule, he got knocked out. What could've been a great fight is a controversial one in the end. Although, I see it as poor representation of Ortiz. Still he was happier than a pig in shit. He got his payday, Mayweather walked in with 50 Cent and walked out with 50 million. And we're one fight closer to the one that really matters. C'mon Pacquio... Mayweather, let's do this!

Rehab

2011-09-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks I've my rehabbing my ankle in Physical Therapy three times a week. It's my first time experiencing this song and dance. It's unfun, but it seems to be beneficial and I wished it had been suggested to me six years ago after breaking my ankle. I really don't think I ever recovered from that injury, sure it healed and I eventually learned to move it, but it's never been the same. Its instability has proven itself with the multiple sprains I've had over the last few years.

After three weeks in the boot, I healed well enough to earn some freedom. Wearing my robo boot in triple digits was very toasty to say the least. So I was thrilled when I retired it, and it better be for the last time, too, dammit! I've gotten far more use out of it that I had ever intended.

Those three weeks allowed enough time for the medial ankle bruising and swelling to vanish. I was left with swelling on the lateral ankle. My Achilles ached and just beside that, up to ankle was tender and swollen. I was told I was suffering from Achilles tendinitis and one ligament from the sprain was slow to heal. That's when I was told to start Physical Therapy.

My initial exam showed very little range of motion. Very little is an understatement. I was shocked how stiff and limited it was. That's when I was released from the boot. My physical therapist wanted me mobile to gain strength. I was shaky at first, but I quickly gained stability. I was just slower than molasses. I'm a bit faster now, but I'm still moving at turtles pace.

I've been treated with ultrasounds, stim and ice therapy. I have a laundry list of exercises, I pedal on the recumbent bike and I fight the BAPS board and elastic bands. It's beyond frustrating being told to complete a simple straight forward task and think "it's a piece of cake" only to learn what a nightmare it truly is. Each day I give it my all. Some days are better than others. Apparently, sitting on my ass at work is causing fluids to pool so I have to keep my foot elevated to keep the swelling down. My ankle still gets really puffy but it does keep it from feeling like my toes are grapes ready to explode at any given minute. Every time I'm given a new exercise it really pisses my ankle off and I deal with an angry ankle for at least 24 hours. Inversion exercises with the bands got me last night. I'm still waiting for the soreness and swelling to subside. I hate feeling like this before even beginning the day's PT session.

Good news is it's all not for nothing. Yesterday, I had a progress report done. We reevaluated my pain and ability to complete tasks, and measured my range of motion. My most impressive improvement is my ability to stretch outward (think pressing on the gas pedal), I gained 14%. Last Tuesday was when I noticed my breakthrough in that regard. It was then I realized I could reach both the gas and brake with my right foot. I'm still driving two footed, but I'm using the left to brake less and less. I improved 2-5% in other areas. Counter and clockwise circles are tough and inversion and eversion exercises are my nemesis. But I'm determined to conquer them, I can't trade this ankle in for a better model so I gotta do what I can to get this one in better shape.

Dona Maria Tamales

2011-09-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

I love love love tamals. Love them! Being that Dona Maria has Tamale in the name I thought they'd be a sure bet. A discounted $10 dining certificate from Restaurant.com gave me the push I needed to give the restaurant a try.

Frank and I dined in the Tenaya location earlier this week. We were one of three tables dining in. It was awfully quiet for such a large space. Our server was friendly and attentive.

We asked for a hotter salsa than the one given and they came back with a delicious smoky spicy option, Chipotle, if I had to guess. It was excellent. We loved the heat. Albondigas soup followed, it was pretty good, I enjoyed the flavorful meatballs.

Both entrees were combos: tamal enchilada style and beef & bean burrito, and chile relleno and cheese and chili tamal. It was fine, but highly Americanized. This gringa likes the real deal so it was a disappointment. My tamal was pretty bland and dry, it needed more zest. I covered mine in the yummy hot salsa and it did the trick. Needless to say the enchilada style went over better.

I really need an abuelita in my life. I wish I could make authentic Mexican eats at home. It would save so much time, effort and belly space that is now spent on so so bites made to please gringos.

Waking Up in the Dark

2011-09-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

It seems like I am the only one not jumping for joy for fall's arrival. I never want summer to end, and my dread for fall grows each year. "EH! EH! EH!" My alarm sounds each morning at 6:30 to encourage me to get my ass out of bed and start the day. I'm one of those people who sets the clock 10 minutes fast to build in a buffer, but I snooze it away more times than not and I'm fully aware the clock is fast so it doesn't make a whole helluva lot of sense. Still, I do it. This week it's been dark. I'm not much of a morning person and to start my day in darkness makes it's so much harder to drag myself from the coziness of my bed. The sun rises as I brush my teeth. Soon, I won't see the sun peer from the window until I shower. It won't be long before we're changing the clocks back, which does help the morning routine, but I hate driving home in darkness. I sit in a windowless office all day, rarely getting out for lunch, the hour of sun (while I prep and drive to work) I see in the morning hardly gives me the dose of Vitamin D I need. I'm definitely one affected by SAD. As soon as I know winter is near the depression settles in.

It's rained off and on for three days and it's not helping my mood any. I'd really like to resume our regularly scheduled warmth and sunshine. I'm not ready for clouds and 80-degree highs. Most Las Vegans are in heaven. They welcome the break of triple digit heat and rain is a treat in the desert. Just this morning, co-workers bounced down the halls giddy that more rain would fall. They all love this weather. "Good for them," I say. I hate this shit. It looks like we'll be plagued by storms all week. I can already hear everyone's cheers.

Speaking of storms, they put a damper on our concert Saturday night. We went to Mandalay Bay Beach to see Slighty Stoopid with Fishbone. Mike joined us. We brought beer to pre-party before the show. The Selena Gomez show was at the event center, kidlets and their parents paraded around while we polished off a 6 pack of Dos Equis. I'm sure we made the most interesting man in the world proud. We also had PBR to bring into the show since last year we were welcomed with tall boys, aluminum was A-OK. This year, we learned they limited it to plastic. Anything and everything had to be poured into the cups at the gate. Still, better than no outside beverages. We obliged their request and each of us entered double fisting our PBR in plastic. We're so high class.

We took our spots, front row in the water just below the stage, we were there for the Dirty Head show too. I was unfamiliar with Fishbone, but they were high energy and quite entertaining. They made my night when they played Sublime's "Date Rape". Stoopid had the longest sound check ever. When they finally got the show underway they invited Fishbone to join them on stage. It was cool, and I wouldn't have minded had we seen them move on and play our favorites. But they never got the chance. Mother Nature had other plans, after "Closer to the Sun" lightning appeared in the distance. The show went on, I kept one eye on the storm the other on the stage since we were standing in water. They did belt out "Til it Gets Wet" before we got wet. We knew the storm was getting close so we left the pool and found a place front row on the beach. Just as we got settled security and life guards made everyone exit the pool. Fishbone and Stoopid encouraged the crowd to return, they asked if someone pissed the pool. It didn't take long before the caught on (or were told) why we were all huddled on the beach. They finished out the song with a "we love you, Las Vegas" and people cheered for the encore, but the house lights came on and show was over. It's no one's fault, this is the risk you take with an outdoor show, but still we felt robbed. No "Collieman".. nuthin'. Such a bummer. This was the second show shut down by weather. The other was Steve Miller last year at M Resort. They never even had a chance, winds shut that show down before it even started. This shouldn't be such a problem in the desert, but that's my luck.

Alizé

2011-09-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

We closed out Restaurant Week 2011 with one last meal at Alize. We had 6 o'clock reservations. Getting up to Alizé was disjointed, very odd encounters with employees near the elevators. Finally, we arrived to the restaurant and we were greeted by the hostess. We had a table overlooking the north valley, a glance over my shoulder revealed the south strip.

The views are stunning, clouds had gathered and I hoped we'd see a storm but none developed, but we did enjoy sunset. As for the $50.11 Restaurant Week menu they pulled the short ribs advertised and replaced it with Hanger Steak. Frank opted to order off the regular menu, I went ahead with the three courses offered by Restaurant Week.

We started with an Amuse of Tuna Ceviche

First Course
Angus Beef Carpaccio with Watercress and Parmesan Cheese; Basil Pesto and Toasted Baguette.

Second Course
Hanger steak with Gruyere Potato Mousseline Sautéed Spinach, Braised Shallots, and Pinot Noir Sauce

Third Course
Andres Apple Tarte Tatin with a Pignoli Florentine and Calvados Ice Cream

Frank had the French Onion soup and Duo of Lamb with potato napoleon.

The carpaccio was delicious and prepared very similarly to the bison carpaccio at Andres, which is my ultimate favorite version. The French onion soup was enjoyable. My entree was tasty, hanger steak is my least favorite cut of beef but it was nicely executed. The duo of lamb was the better dish, but that was expected. The rack had a rich mustard crust and the braised shoulder layered with the potatoes was especially good when ran through the sauce and feta cheese. Dessert was adequate, but no part was particularily noteworthy. Honestly, it left me craving the apple cobbler from Buzz BBQ.

Alizé was enjoyable, but not nearly as memorable as I hoped. I definitely prefer Andres at Monte Carlo. However, for all the places I've dined with stellar views of the city, Alizé does offer the highest caliber of eats.

Prime

2011-09-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

Last night, I met Frank at Bellagio for our fifth Restaurant Week meal. We had ($50.11) dinner at Prime. It was less stuffy than I imagined. It's odd, though, jackets are preferred for men but they have no coat check. Anyhow, it's a nice dining room with fountain views. We noshed on the bread basket filled with a variety of sour dough, pretzel and raisin walnut.

First Course
Tomato Gazpacho; Summer Flavors, Marcona Almonds & Olive Oil and Bacon Wrapped Shrimp; Passion Mustard & Cumin Scented Honey

Second Course
Filet Medallions; Sweet Corn, Crispy Spaetzle & Fiore Sardo Cheese

Third Course
Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake; Vanilla Ice Cream and Summer Berries; Strawberry Gelée & Marsala Cream

The gazpacho must have been a blend of tomatoes and watermelon. It would make the perfect smoothie. Still, it was a refreshing treat with fun surprises of raspberries, strawberries, peppers, and marcona almonds. The shrimp were properly cooked and the bacon was nice and crisp. The flavor was a unique blend of sweet and smokey.

The filet was cooked to perfect and it sliced like butter. It was fantastic on its own, but coupled with the shallot sauce? Wow. We agreed the Bearnaise and au pouvoir hindered the already fabulous flavor of the steak. The spaetzle was light and tasty with the sweetness from the corn.

Dessert were tasty, but they were the weakest links of the meal. Properly executed but both just lacked pizazz. Service was attentive throughout the meal. Prior to Restaurant Week, we had never dined in a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant. We've been missing out. Both Prime and Jean-Georges were highly enjoyable.

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-08T10:21:00.001-07:00

This weekend was my last one with Frank. With football here he returns to Monday/Tuesday off and we'll have no common day off until February. This time of year is always tough on me. I hate saying good-bye to summer and seeing less of Frank is always an adjustment. There will be less off-roading the next five months which will also be a bummer, but we still hope to get out for night runs.

We had a visitor Friday and Saturday night, and my brother joined us all weekend, too. Our friend Kate was in from Texas, she had been in town all week for a convention and was pretty over the strip by the time Frank picked her up on Friday. We mainly hung by the house, went off-roading and shooting. We did some shopping at the Las Vegas Outlet, saw the pawn shop made famous by the show Pawn Stars (the showroom closed as we walked up), gambled with coins at Skyline, visited the Hoover Dam, walked the new bridge and enjoyed eats at Amore and Fat Greek.

You'd find me on my butt a lot while we were off-roading since I couldn't do any hiking.

Monday, Frank and I got together with Lauren and Darren. We took advantage of the cooler weather - only 95, felt downright cool after the hottest August on record - and spent the day off-roading in Logandale. It was 10 degrees warmer and there was full sun last we were there, we couldn't believe the difference it made. Storms were all around us so it was a bit humid, we did get drizzled on, but the skies never opened up, thank goodness. We had a good day riding trails, the three of them were able to do some hiking. I'd go as far as I could before getting too tired and stuck to fairly solid ground so I didn't aggravate my bum ankle. Near the end of our ride, we had a little scare when the RZR wouldn't start. We knew a cable must have come loose, but it took us a bit to locate it. Darren was the one who finally came across it. He saved the day. After tightening the connection we were on our way.

D.O.C.G.

2011-09-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

When Cosmo opened with two Scott Conant restaurants I was thrilled. Food Network's Chopped introduced me to him and his aversion of raw red onion. Around the same time, I began to hear tales of his extraordinary pasta. I knew Scarpetta was a place I had to try. It was going to be my birthday meal, but I put it off and ended up dining at wd50 in NYC instead. Six months have nearly passed since my birthday and we had not yet tried either of Conant's restaurants. Restaurant Week changed that, however, last night we went to D.O.C.G. to try out the $30.11 dinner menu.

First Course
Caprese; Bufala Mozzarella & Heirloom Tomatoes and Fried Calamari; Spicy Tomato Sauce

Second Course
Pizza Margherita and Ravioli; Veal Spinach, Parmigiano Sauce

Third Course
Vanilla Panna Cotta

Scumptious focaccia and Italian bread with vinegar and oil got us started, and appetizers followed. The calamari was a bit tough, but it was well seasoned and lightly breaded. Had it been cooked just a bit less I think it could have been very good. The caprese was nice, the mozzarella was creamy and delicious. It was also the highlight of the pizza, which otherwise fell flat for me. I actually prefer the hidden pizza joint's slices. My fault for ordering the pizza from the pasta guy. The ravioli was fantastic. Fortunately, Frank was a dear and shared a few with me. They were rich and luscious. The panna cotta to finish was light and tasty. It was beautifully set and full of vanilla flavor. Had we skipped the pizza and calamari it would've been a perfect meal. Still, I was quite pleased and I really look forward to trying Scarpetta.

Carnegie Deli

2011-09-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

We grabbed lunch at Carnegie Deli inside Mirage for our third Restaurant Week meal. My brother joined us, it was his first visit, but Frank and I've been many times. Our usual is the Corned Beef Reuben. It's plenty for two and it is delicious. We think it is the best we've had in Las Vegas (Langer's in LA and Katz's in NYC are better, though).

We never got around to trying Carnegie's pastrami so Restaurant Week's $20.11 lunch provided us with the perfect opportunity.

First Course
Choice of half-sandwich: “The Woody Allen”

Second Course
My Fair Latke; Potato Pancake

Third Course
Carnegie Deli's Famous Cheese Cake

The pastrami wasn't as lean or tender as we'd prefer, but I thought it had a nice flavor and it was still a good sandwich. I'd probably be thrilled with it had I never tasted the gloriousness of Langer's in Los Angeles. The latke was good, but not great (overly greasy). The cheesecake was delicious. It was half of the usual sized portion, but this worked out well because it left me with a satisfied but not too full belly.

My brother had the corned beef sandwich and he was in love. He thought it was easily the best corned beef he has ever had.

There was a wait to be seated, but the tables turned over fairly quickly so it didn't take too long to be seated. Service was attentive.

Plaza Grand (Re)Opening

2011-09-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Plaza was home to Frank and I for two weeks while we waited on our condo to close back in 2003. Friendly employees and cheap options all around won us over. We loved the property under Jackie's reign. I have such fond memories eating Klondike bars at our favorite machines, creating a stir while celebrating my final hours bachelorettedom (surveillance felt the the 3ft phallus I was carrying was a major distraction), and on our wedding night the staff celebrated our newly wedded bliss just as if they were included on the guestlist. It was that level of personal connection that made us feel special. When Jackie sold we saw a friends vanish and as the property was never quite the same. We still enjoyed it on drunken nights with friends, but the luster was lost when they replaced the carpeting. A complete remodel was planned back then, but financing fell through and they weren't able to get it together until last year when it closed.

We anxiously awaited its transformation hoping it'd become a place we'd learn to love once again.

We didn't check out any of the soft opening hubbub, I wanted to wait until the grand opening for first impressions. Last night was the night. My mom is usually comped at Plaza/LVC, the best they'd offer her was $25/night post-remodel. She took it to see the new rooms. In short, they are definitely still working out kinks. My first impression is lipstick on a pig. It looks great on the surface, but as you look more closely things aren't quite what they appear.

Hotel lobby

Apparently, hotel rooms in the north tower are not ready for their debut. Rooms are only available in the south tower. Check in was slow, like they haven't quite gotten their bearings yet. Even bellboys commented how the check in process was lengthy.

HHAGG is open for business as is the new sushi/hawaiian restaurant. Island Sushi is directly across from the three craps tables.

Swinger's Club was open for business. Dueling pianos were singing tunes. I was much too sober to find it enjoyable.

The casino floor has a far better layout with new slots, gaming tables (a couple $5 BJ, remainder $10/$25) and majority chairs have been reupholstered (those on the back wall are old with cigarette burns). The casino cage is considerably smaller which makes the floor far more spacious. The smell is more fresh, the carpet is cushy, but smoke still lingers. Air filtration is the same old. The cleanliness was terrible. Empty glasses were strewn about, ashtrays were overflowing, saw garbage around the floor, chairs knocked over. Service was unfriendly it's like they've all been beaten down with complaints, but they are quick to offer unsympathetic apologies. New waitress uniforms are very unflattering on the mature ladies that dominated the floor... Great for those perky twenty somethings, not so great for sagging sixty somethings. The sportsbook is untouched, it looks like it will run as is until Cantor comes in and handles the remodel under their operation which is set to commence in 2012.

South Tower rooms have a guard out front checking room keys. Elevators appear to be refurbished. My mom's room was on the 7th floor. There are no directional arrows coming off the elevator to notify you which way your room might be. New carpet and paint throughout the original doors remain.

The room my mom was assigned was only partially made. Cigarettes were in the ashtray, garbage was also laying around. The bedding and towels were clean but left disorderly. When she called the front desk she was told she could only be moved to a non-smoking room, which she did not want. Instead, they would send housekeeping up to finish cleaning the room. I haven't yet heard how that turned out. I had heard reports of no soap or bed skirts during the soft opening and this was still the case. I even asked other hotel guests and they did not have them either. The new tvs are nice and they do have HD programming. The beds are worlds better than those they had before, and I liked the vintage Plaza print that decorated the wall. Views were of the Performing Arts, New City Hall, etc. but they were hard to enjoy through the filthy windows.

These issues would be more forgivable with a soft opening, but on the official opening night? I'd expect better. The potential is there. I'm just not confident that they can deliver.

Also, it's worth a mention work has hardly begun on the second floor. New escalators and fresh Bingo boards are the highlight. The rest is desperately awaiting its overhaul.

I'm not in love. Maybe once they actually reach completion they will woo me?

Jean Georges

2011-09-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had reservations at Sirio inside Aria. Our friend, Jeff, was joining us. We met beforehand in the sportsbook. Frank bet a couple horses, the first race at Balmoral had long shot win. The trifecta paid over $10k. I've never seen that before. Why couldn't I have a feeling and bet 2-5-9? That would've been sweet!

We walked up to Sirio and we were seated right away. Frank and Jeff decided on veal immediately. About a minute later, the waiter came by and noted they were out of veal. It was disasterous really, Jeff has an aversion to onions and they were in the other dishes. While he looked over the regular menu, we dug into the bread basket. We found stale bread and rock hard butter. We all had the same idea... let's bail. We could feel this becoming a bad beat.

We left and looked over the restaurant week menus at American Fish and Jean Georges. We opted for the latter since it was new to each of us and the menu sounded delicious. We were able to get a table right away without a reservation.

First Course
Watermelon Gazpacho; Pickled Melon and Lemon Verbena

Second Course
Heirloom Tomato Panzanella Salad; Feta, Arugula and Basil Vinaigrette

Third Course
Choice of: Rangers Valley Angus 300 NY Strip; Crunchy Potatoes and Smokey Tomato Compote ~OR~ Soy Glazed Short Rib; Apple Jalapeno Puree, Rosemary Crumbs

Fourth Course:
Choice of: Warm Chocolate Cake ~OR~ Crackling Key Lime Pie

The gazpacho was a lovely amuse bouche. It was clean and refreshing with balls of tomato and watermelon. Then, a surprise cucumber to finish. The salad was fantastic... so fresh and light, summer in a bowl. The entrees were perfectly executed. The short rib was flavorful and super tender, the apple slaw gave great texture with each bite. There was a small amount of heat from the jalapeno. It was very good. The steak was cooked to perfection. It had a beautiful crust that locked in its juices. The side components were also delicious. Dessert capped off the stellar meal. The molten cake was decadent and the key lime pie was luscious and the cracklin' pop rocks brought out child-like smiles. All in all, it was a great meal. I'm thrilled kismet led us to Jean Georges.

Goodsprings Trail

2011-08-31T10:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday, we took my mom and mike out on the RZR. We thought we'd ride up to Mount Potosi to beat the heat, but after staging at the turn off from Hwy 160 across from RRNCA we never found our way. Instead we came upon the Goodsprings trail system. This area is still healing from the massive Goodsprings wildfire in 2005. We had a great ride, we had a picnic lunch, we saw wild burros, a stallion and petroglyphs.

We also had ourselves a little adventure when we attempted to climb a very steep mountain. It was too steep for our weight load. The RZR was beyond capacity and couldn't make it up. We all hopped out, but as Frank backed down the mountain he slid off the trail. From 200 ft above him, I wasn't able to spot him. With my bum ankle there was no way I could manuever the climb up or down, so I slid down to him on my butt... Leaving Mike and my mom. I got in the driver's seat and Frank guided me back on the trail. He wanted me to try to get up the mountain but I let off the gas when I got spooked - I've watched too many youtube videos where people roll their vehicle. It broke momentum and there was no way. I did not feel comfortable enough with my skills to proceed so we backed up the whole way down the mountain. We got to safety, but we still needed to get Mike and my mom down to solid ground. It was slow going, but soon we were all safe and sound. This served as a lesson that I need to learn to drive the RZR. I gave it a whirl when it was brand new, but had little interest as I prefer to be a passenger. I now understand that developing those off-road skills will be beneficial especially for those times we find ourselves in a pickle.

Enjoy the sights we spotted during the ride...

We found petroglyphs on the backside of this rock

See?

The horse got excited while I was photographing the burros. Didn't intend on shooting XXX, but there it is.

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion

2011-08-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Plans changed and we snuck in a restaurant week meal last night. We went to Roy's in Summerlin. We've had a GC since christmas and figured this was a good time to use it. We've never been to Roy's since we tend to stray from chains, but I have heard good things so it seemed promising.

$50.11 Restaurant Week menu offered us the following:

First Course
Panko Crisped Calamari with Macadamia Nuts, Orange Chili Glaze & Yuzu Aioli and Wood Grilled Szechuan Spiced Pork Ribs.

Second Course
Shellfish Sampler; Butter Poached Half Lobster Tail, Seared Crab Cake, U10 Sea Scallop & Shrimp with Macadamia Nut Pesto Risotto and Roy’s Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi with Maine Lobster Essence.

Third Course
Mascarpone Cheesecake with Coconut Crust, Lemon Crème Anglaise & Blueberry Syrup and Roy’s Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé with Raspberry Sauce & Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

We both felt "meh" about the whole experience. Service was discombobulated, I made a reservation but they couldn't find it. They were slow to attend to us at first. We were also seriously distracted by the family behind us, they thought it was a good idea to keep their kiddo occupied by watching cartoons on an iPad. Fine if you have earphones, but not acceptable otherwise especially when average checks are $50 per person.

As for the meal, we enjoyed the edamame to start. It's such a great alternative to bread. Our appetizers were ok. The calamari was very tender, but there was a hint of seasoning I didn't care for it was sweet and bitter. Frank didn't mind it as much. The ribs had a nice char and good flavor, but they were tough and had too much gristle. Frank's shellfish sampler was terrible. All of it was overcooked, and the flavor was poor. Majority has hardly edible, and the risotto was no better. I definitely chose the better entree. It was overcooked, but otherwise I thought it was decently executed. Desserts didn't impress either. The souffle was chalky. The highlight was the ice cream. My cheesecake was passable, but I really only enjoyed the blueberry syrup.

Not the best way to kick off restaurant week, but on the other hand it set the bar pretty low. I feel like it can only get better. Well, I certainly hope it can only get better.

It's Here!

2011-08-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

Today kicks off Restaurant Week. As an added bonus this glorious week has been extended to two weeks to celebrate its 5th anniversary. Frank and I have enjoyed a different restaurant each day of restaurant week the past couple years. This year, though, we're scaling back.

Splurging on 14 meals would be excessive any way you slice it. But I did hope we could indulge in a regular week of meals spacing them out over the two week period. However, we ran into unexpected repairs and I nearly had to kiss my dreams of restaurant week good-bye. Now, that it's actually here, it looks like we'll finagle a few meals afterall. Woot!

Our first meal will be at Sirio inside Aria on Wednesday. When it first opened I heard mixed reviews, since then majority sing its praises. Sirio is run by the Maccioni family, who also operate, Circo, my favorite Italian restaurant in the city. I figure it's time to see how they compare. Restaurant week provides us with the perfect excuse to do so.

Other restaurant menus that piqued my interest are DOCG, Alize, Prime, Roy's and Sensi. Carnegie Deli also has a lunch menu for $20.11 that looks intriguing. It'd be a good time to stray from our usual corned beef rueben and try their pastrami.

We'll wait and see how these meals shape up.

Interested in the list of participates and their menus? Check them out here.

SoCal Trip in Photos

2011-08-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

Felix's BBQ, Oceanside - Ribs and Tri-tip with awesome sides of mac 'n cheese, braised cabbage and corn bread

Del Mar Race Track

Del Mar Food Truck Festival

Super Q - Pulled Pork Melt and Brisket Fries

Dogzilla - Furikake Dog

Padres - Petco Park

Trevor Hoffman, MLB leader for most saves. Retires number 51.

High five for a homer. Sunday home games, the Padres wear camouflage jerseys to honor the military.

Ballpark specialty - Fish Tacos

El Indio - 71 years of yummy Mexican eats

La Jolla

It was a lot harder to walk in the sand than I thought

Buon Appetito - Ravioli and Duck Ragu Fusilli

Downtown San Diego from Coronado Island

USS Midway

White Sox vs Angels

White Sox vs Angels, Dunn doing what he does best... getting out.

Langer's Deli - The best Pastrami

Griffith Park, Los Angeles

La Brea Tar Pits

Going back to Cali, Cali

2011-08-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Our last hurrah before football will be spent in So Cal. We'll be visiting friends in Oceanside. Then, we'll stay a night in Del Mar. Where we will go to the track to bet ponies and check out the Gourmet Food Truck Festival. We'll sample a treasure trove of delicious and eclectic foods served up by Southern California’s top food trucks.

Sunday we'll check into the Bristol in downtown San Diego. We'll catch a Padre's game and spend the rest of the day in La Jolla. We'll be sure to fill up on all of our favorite eats. Nom. Monday we're free to do whatever we please. Then, Tuesday we head up to Anaheim to see the White Sox for their last series of the season against the Angels. Wednesday we'll drive into LA for tasty eats and then catch another White Sox game before heading home.

My ankle might be immobile, but I am mobile. Thank goodness, I was really nervous before getting x-rays on Monday. Hopefully, I have enough miles left in my boot. I cannot believe I sprained this ankle again, it's only been a year since the last time. And it's my fourth injury since I broke it in Mexico in 2005. I really need to trade it in for a better model.

Brian Head

2011-08-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

This is the last bunch from our weekend in Utah. These trails were minutes from the condo where we stayed.

on High Mtn

360 degree views from High Mtn

Cedar Breaks

2011-08-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

I captured these photos at a Cedar Breaks overlook. I was so cold and shivering, we didn't stay more than two minutes. Next time, when I'm not so gimpy, we'll definitely visit the park.

Duck Creek

2011-08-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

Duck Creek Village is about 25 miles from Brian Head. It rests at the edge of a Cedar Mountain meadow at an elevation of 8,400 feet. They have an excellent trail system for riding. We rode a 130 miles and hardly dented all that is available to ride.

I was stung by a bee in a meadow just like this one.

Lava beds

There are so many fallen trees in the Duck Creek area.

Responsible for the hole in our roof.

First of many mud holes

There were dozens of streams from snow melt, yep, even in August.

Broke 10,000 ft

You can see for miles at the elevation

Birdie singing at 10,000 ft

One of the many deer we spotted

Yankee Meadows Reservoir

Rolled my ankle and sprained it on this path.

Bee stung and bum ankle, and I am still having fun.

Moooo!

Panguitch Lake, this was our destination, but we were met with storms...

They left us soaking wet and cold. From here, we got lost and went 20 miles out of our way in a complete down pour, with lightening and thunder. Definitely had better times, but we soon found our way back and returned to the truck before sunset.

Escaping the Heat in UT

2011-08-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

Summer is winding down, boo. The hottest day this year was 111 (July 2nd). Even though it never really felt too hot and I'm not ready for summer to end, we snuck away to the cool air and high elevations of Brian Head and Duck Creek, Utah to ride trails.

When we left Vegas after work on Friday it was 105, three hours later when we got to my co-workers condo (10,500 feet elevation), in Brian Head, it was 52. Um, BRRRR! Talk about a shock to the system!

Saturday, we got an early start and we drove out to Duck Creek. Unloaded the RZR, and drove into "town" had breakfast at Aunt Sue's Chalet. The told us we could buy OHV trail map at the gas station, but Frank felt confident that he knew the way from all his hours of research and google earth mapping.

So, after we ate, we were off to the trails. We missed the turn off and ended up getting a tour of the homes/camps. Before finding our way. We took the 1 initially, we went over lava beds, through bristlecone forest and across meadows. In the second meadow, I got stung by a bee. We were riding along, I felt a pinch and looked down at my belly and half a bee was sitting there. It took me a second to realize what happened, and then the stinging started. It got worse and worse. I made Frank pullover so I could check it out. I'm allergic (not deathly), and hadn't been stung since I was 10. I wasn't sure exactly what would happen. No stinger was inside, it quickly swelled and left a nasty welt. It's still sore to the touch and discolored, but I never felt funny so that was good.

We pressed on and took a loop on 16 but it didn't lead us to anything in particular. We continued on 1 to the reservior, it was really pretty, we stopped. Frank was ahead of me because I was taking photos, he crossed a creek and I was looking for a way to cross instead of watching were I was walking. Sure enough, I tripped, rolled my ankle, I nearly fell, but caught myself. My heart was racing over my camera. Then the pain started. I sat and checked out my ankle it didn't swell instantly so I was happy. I was able to put weight on it. I figured I stretched out the ligaments. It hurt, but not terribly we carried on.

It was a great ride until we reached the lake. Then, it started to rain, it drizzled at first and then the sky opened lightening, thunder and complete downfall. We were lost, and soaked. It was so damn cold. Just when I thought I couldn't get any wetter, water that had collected on the roof poured in on me, and it continued to do so. It was miserable. The fortunate thing was I was so cold, I didn't feel my sting or ankle. We ended up going 20 miles out of our way while lost. Frank thought 1 was a loop and it was not. At least, he realized it before we got even further out. We headed back to the lake and drove on the highway until we crossed back to our original path. It ended up working out, but we were both on edge during that storm. We were so relieved to be back on route. The rain stopped and we were drying up. I was watching GPS like a hawk so we wouldn't get off route. I was distracted and completely missed a branch that ended up flying back and slapping me across the face right at the bridge of my nose. I was stunned, I sat and waited for the blood to flow. Fortunately it never came. I was only left with minor swelling under my left eye to my nose. What else? Geez, I didn't plan on the abuse.

Finally we got back to Duck Creek. Frank stopped at the gas station, he comes out with a map. I bust into laughter, "That's helpful." "We'll be prepared next time," he says. We get to the truck. My backside was still soaked, I was wet and cold. Frank had the heat kicking in the car. We stopped at one overlook for Cedar Breaks, we were quickly reminded that it was only 50 outside. I froze while I snapped a couple photos, realizing that our visit to Cedar Breaks would not happen with my bum ankle. We drove back to the condo. I took a hot shower to warm up and remove the chunks of mud that were all over. I iced and elevated my foot.

A while later, we grabbed dinner at Pizano's Pizza. They were out of dough, so we ended up getting a meatball and chicken parm sandwich, along with a couple Jamaican Lagers. Both were far better than I expected. After our beers, we went back to the condo. We were both beat, we quickly crashed. I woke in the middle of the night, my ankle was killing me. I must have turned it awkwardly. Eventually, I got comfortable enough to fall back asleep. By morning, it felt pretty good. It only hurt to walk, swelling was no worse and still minor. I felt good enough to ride.

We rode the trails right near the condo in Brian Head. It was brisk, much cooler than Saturday... less sun and higher elevation. After an hour, Frank had enough of the wind and cold. Plus we'd logged 130 miles by now, we got plenty of riding in. We went back to the condo, had lunch, packed and cleaned, and we were on the road for home by noon. Temps climbed as soon as we headed down the mountain, within and hour it was up to 90. We stopped for lotto tickets in AZ, it was 109 there. Hard to believe less than 2 hours before it was 54. We had lots of fun, but I'll take the triple digits. I'm used to the desert riding, there was a definite learning curve to the cool air, forests, etc. We'll be better prepared next time.

[kuh-bob] n. To char

2011-08-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

Our friend, Josh bought us to Royal Persis to try Persian cuisine. We are always open to new things, and were excited to give it a try. Especially since he generally sticks to restaurants in the LA area, but found that Royal Persis delivers authentic eats right here at home. His family makes stews and such, but it's the Kebabs that are a treat. He says they're are impossible to duplicate in your own kitchen, and restaurants recruit chefs that specialize in these fine grilled meats.

We shared a couple dips to start. Maust' Moosier ($4.99) is yogurt with shallots. It was creamy, cool and savory. Kashk-E-Bademjan ($5.99) is loaded with bold flavors from eggplant with whey, onion and mint. Both are spread on lavash which is a flatbread similar to pita. I had Chelo Kebab Soltani ($21.99), which is a combo of filet and ground beef. Frank had stew with beef, kidney beans and a bunch of seasonings called Ghormeh Sabzi ($12.99). Josh's favorite dish is the Chelo Kebab Barg ($18.99) which is the filet kebab. He said the secret to the side of rice was to add lots of butter. I still enjoyed it without. We finished our dinner in the traditional way by enjoying a cup of hot tea. Sugar cubes are on the table and Josh said you place one on your tongue and you let it dissolve with each sip. I usually drink coffee and tea black, but I tried a sugar cube. I prefer it black, but it is fun to have the cube melt away.

I've had kebabs before at various Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants and none have been as tender or tasty. I loved the marinade for the Barg. I definitely recommend it.

Service was friendly and unhurried.

Facebook brings back memories

2011-08-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

The last two days have been a blast from the past. I'm sure you've seen those "You know you're from, if" pages. Well, one was just created for my hometown of Oak Forest, IL.

Is your hometown in the Urban Dictionary? I've come to learn mine is and it's been there since 2008. Apparently, our claim to fame is having the moniker Coke Forest. In my day, it was also referred to as Toke Forest.

Here were some comments that I found particularly true.

"Your biggest decision of the weekend is what forest the party was in."

"Tree Pigs!"

"You used to go sledding at Belly Button Hill."

"Buck movies at Bremen Mall and the Woody Woodpecker/Chilly Willy Cartoon Booth."

"You made a penny hockey game in shop class."

"If your teacher came to school drunk and hid underneath his desk."

"You were always curious what was behind the swinging doors at Video Village."

"Half the varsity football team was on steroids, and the other half on coke."

"I would love the smiley face back on the water tower, thats when I know we were "home" from vacation."

"Mrs. Damhorst patrolling the halls w/a walkie talkie....."

"When you told people you were from Oak Forest they said you mean Coke Forest?"

And my contribution...

You'd scrape together whatever change you could to buy candy cigarettes from the Cupboard. Then, 10 years later, you did the same to buy real ones from White Hen.

Growing up a lot of time was spent in the woods. I suppose that's what you get when growing up in Oak Forest. Family gatherings were in the forest preserve, winters I'd "ice skate" when the creeks would freeze over, summers were hide n seek, my teen years had lots of parties and walks in the woods. You'd hear "Tree Pigs!" called out when police were there to chase us out. I attended elementary school, middle school and high school all in Oak Forest. Mrs. Damhorst patrolled us students in HS. She didn't know who I was until I started dating Frank in junior high. Then, I, too, was getting Saturday detention left and right. That woman made lots of kids' lives hell. Frank actually had more Saturday detentions than Saturdays in the school year. It was so ridiculous. I hated high school. Best thing to come from it was meeting Frank.

Anyway, let's stroll down memory lane...

This was the park district. I took tumbling, crafts and cooking classes here.

John Amico's Beauty School parking lot where I learned to ride a bike. The gas station to the left is where my mom worked for several years. I'd help fill the coolers and count cigarettes.

I went to Ridge 1st-5th grade.

Then, I moved across the street to Kerkstra Middle School for 6th-8th. My memories here are mostly of how badly I hated gym class. Freezing during track and field, learning to country line and square dance, and freezing again during cross country skiing.

And finally, Oak Forest High School. Home to the Bengals.

Mickey's was a staple of my childhood. I spent much of my babysitting money there. Sundaes, dipped cones, fries and the best grilled cheese. They were also famous for a "big baby". A popular cheeseburger with grilled onions found on Chicago's south side. I just learned it wasn't always Mickey's, it was A&W before that. Foremost Liquors was a must stop for my dad. He'd stop there every Friday to pick up a case of beer. My best friend's mom was a cashier there.

White Castle is just as prized as In-N-Out on the west coast. We grew up with sliders, and once we were of drinking age, it was the place to stop to sober up because it was always open. Frank's first job was working at this White Castle. It's our first stop every trip back home, too.

Beggar's pizza didn't come around until the last year in high school. They had great thin crust pizza and they were known to "lay it on thick."

Oak Forest Bowl, the only place that offered something to do. Ken & Dicks pizza was attached. The pizza was terrible, but many friends worked there. My first year of college, you'd find us here every Monday night. I'd be doing homework noshing on fried mini tacos and Frank would bowl with friends.

Photos by Charles Coleman

Back for More

2011-08-10T10:02:00.000-07:00

Sunday, my mom joined us for another day in Logandale. Frank and I had such fun there we wanted to go back and find the easy way in and explore more of the 200 miles of trails that are there.

We drove up through Logandale, Liston Rd is the first one after the Post Office that takes you to Mill Rd which runs along the railroad from there it's just up the hills to the point of entry for the trail system. There are covered picnic tables and an outhouse there, plus a huge staging area. We pulled the RZR off the trailer and we were off for another day of fun.

We were determined to find Petroglyphs, and thought we spotted something in one canyon. Frank and I hiked up the sandstone to see if we could get a better look. There were no etchings. But we did enjoy the beatiful sights. However, that climb wiped me out. 105 degree dry air and full sun had me begging for water.

Moss does grow in the desert.

We found no Petroglyphs there, but we did find them a short time later. They are actually "roped" off and protected. You can only walk into the area they are located.

I'd guess these were shelters, if not homes, back in the day.

Our next stop provided us with 360 degree views, it was stunning.

To the east is Overton, all that green was underwater back in 2004. Lake Mead has receeded so much since then, the people of Overton lost their lake. I can recall being at the boat launch just a few days before my wedding. Then, a couple years ago it looked like this.

Lake Mead has risen 25 feet this year so maybe there is hope for water enthusiasts in the Overton area.

To the north, trails head up to Logandale.

Valley of Fire begins in the west and heads southward.

From there we went down into an old quarry.

Then we wound around to the wash.

And found a nice cool canyon that had been out of the sun for sometime.

I swear there were bats in this cave.

From the wash we climbed to higher elevation. These ATV trails were wild, and so much fun with hairpin turns. Who needs a rollercoaster for thrills? Not me. I should've taken more photos but I was too busy holding on.

We found ourselves back in the wash before long. We came across a burnt out car.

We continued onward until we hit the dunes.

And then it back to where we began we packed it in. We are convinced to return to camp so I can get photos at sunset and sunrise. The rocks change color throughout the day so I think it'd be a really great opportunity to shoot during golden hour. Maybe this spring? It's much too hot now, and there will be little time for play while football is here.

It's like Mars, I imagine

2011-08-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Saturday, Darren came out with us for a day filled with off-road fun. We started with the trails off Ute Rd north of Moapa Paiute Indian Reservation.

We had rode the Hawkins trail to its terminus at the Railroad tracks and on the way back, Darren spotted a bighorn sheep. I've known they are around but I've never seen one myself. We spooked the herd (two females and one male) they booked down the trail and up the mountain.

They flew up the mountain in 30 seconds flat. It was incredible.

They blend in so well, you can hardly spot them. It's no wonder I've never seen them before.

We rode through the bowl and covered all the ground in that area except for Matterhorn a popular spot for rock crawling. We need skid plates before we can take on those kind of obstacles. We loaded up the trailer and headed to the end of the road determined to find our way into the Logandale Trail System which runs along Valley of Fire.

Just past an abandoned quarry we were able to ride down to the western trail system, but first we had to cross one obstacle.

Darren and I hopped out to keep the load light and spotted Frank down the cliff. Then, we were off.

Soon, we entered a whole new world.

Yes! We hit dunes. I had no idea they were there. It was our first time playing in sand. It's lots of fun, but it eats up the gas very quickly.

We rode through and came upon a picnic and staging area, which we realized is the proper entrance to the Logandale Trail System. We had been out all day, water and gas was low so we headed back to the truck.

Going up the cliff, we snagged the hubcap on a protruding rock. It popped off and bent a bit. It was nothing that couldn't be fixed. It was funny, though, because on our way down, we found a polaris hubcap in the same spot. We picked it up, and Frank has since found its owner on the RZR forum.

We made it back, otherwise, without issue. We loaded up the trailer and headed for home. It was a fantastic day. The RZR is just loads of fun and I love exploring. It amazes me how much changes in a relatively short distance. Logandale and Lovell Canyon are less than 2 hours apart and they are completely different worlds. I simply love it.

Weezer & More

2011-08-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

Frank had a head start to his weekend, he golfed in Primm with his buddy, Josh. Afterwards, he picked me up and we had dinner at Amore. Few things are better than getting a taste of Chicago without ever leaving home. Yummy eats and good conversation. Josh will be in San Diego the same time as us, La Jolla is his hometown so he's gonna show us around a bit. I'm looking forward to the eats and secret beaches. On a whim, I told Frank to stop at Lee's Liquor on our way home, they were giving out free shots of cazadores, and we actually found Baltika 9. It's a Russian beer we had in San Diego, last year, that we enjoyed, I've looked for it since. Perfect for International Beer Day.

We ended up with an extra ticket to Weezer, because Shane hurt his back and cancelled his plans for a visit. Our friend, Darren, originally turned us down... to stay at home. So, when we headed out for the concert, Frank called and told him he was going. Life would pass him by if he sat still. Dramatic, much? But it worked, we swung by, picked him up and we were off to Red Rock. It was a sold out show.

The venue was pretty crummy, the pool kept everyone from getting near the stage. Other pools and hot tubs are scattered about so the lay out was haphazard. The sound was muffled. Still not as bad as Hard Rock's pool, though. So that's something. They covered two songs, one was just bizarre and the other was "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People. Every other song was one of their hits, but the crowd was pretty low energy. It gave me a really weird vibe, Frank didn't sense it as much. But I'd say 85% of people were there for a night out, rather than the band. They were busy taking self pics, texting, chatting. Granted we weren't first or third row like most of the shows we've seen in recent years, but at SOAD we were way back in the balcony and everyone still went nuts. Just odd. Either Weezer fans, in general, are pretty low key or the audience was just uninterested. It was cool that Rivers jumped into the pool toward the end of the show. The radio show this morning said what a great show it was. They've been there every Friday all summer, Weezer was the last of the summer concert series. Maybe it was just me?

We went to Yard House after the show. We enjoyed a couple Kronenbourgs to celebrate International Beer Day. Then, it was back home to rest up for our off-road extravaganza weekend.