May 3, 2007

Mega Beat Jackpot

Frank's pet project finally came to fruition. The Mega Beat Jackpot was unveiled yesterday in Harrah's poker rooms.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2007

Poker Rooms Launch Progressive Mega Beat Jackpot Poker
Win For Losing in Multi-Property Texas Hold’em Progressive

Las Vegas, NV – Poker enthusiasts have the chance to earn $50,000 or more playing Texas Hold’em at any one of six participating Harrah’s properties during the new Mega Beat Jackpot Live Poker promotion. Starting today, poker rooms at Harrah’s Las Vegas, Flamingo Las Vegas, O’Sheas Casino, Bally’s Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Harrah’s Laughlin are introducing the mammoth jackpot promotion that makes designated losing hands a winner.

The new Mega Beat Jackpot starts at $50,000 and increases daily the more the game is played without a winner. The initial qualifying hand to win the Mega Beat Jackpot is when four 10’s or higher is beaten by a higher four-of-a-kind or better. Each week the Mega Beat Jackpot isn’t won, the qualifying hand will drop numerically until the Mega Beat Jackpot is won. Once the jackpot is claimed, the prize will reset at $50,000 and the qualifying hand will return to four 10’s.

“We’re excited to introduce this multi-property promotion to our poker players,” said Mark Kelly, Vice President of Table Games for Harrah’s and Flamingo Las Vegas. “Avid players know the disappointment when a seemingly winning hand is crushed by an even better hand. With the Mega Beat Jackpot, even a losing hand can be a winner and the jackpot has the potential to grow daily.”

To add to the excitement, when a Mega Beat Jackpot is hit, all active players engaged in an eligible Texas Hold’em game at any one of the participating casinos will win a share of the Mega Beat Jackpot. Official rules and regulations about the Mega Beat Jackpot Promotion are available in the poker room of each participating casino.

May 2, 2007

Top 10... Movies: Comedies

  • King Pin
  • Mixed Nuts
  • Madhouse
  • Money Pit
  • Love Actually
  • Nine Months
  • Roadtrip
  • American Pie
  • Clerks
  • Borat

April 25, 2007

Top 10... TV Shows

  • Sex and the City
  • Six Feet Under
  • Sopranos
  • Entourage
  • Rescue Me
  • Nip/Tuck
  • The Shield
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • Seinfeld
  • Married with Children

Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, and X Files get honorable mentions. Additionally, Big Love, Dexter, Dirt, and The Riches are all great, but none were considered since a second season has not yet aired.

April 21, 2007

When it rains, it pours

It seems like Frank and I have ran into a string of rough luck, he's been fighting sciatica for the past three weeks. The pain has made everyday life incredibly tough for him. He can barely walk ten feet before his legs go completely numb and he doubles over in excruciating pain. He's been on a handful of meds over a week now and has experienced no improvement. He's awaiting a MRI to determine the next course of action, but trying to get authorization and an appointment has been a hellish nightmare.

Then, on Thursday, I fell at work. My ankle (same one I broke two years ago) swelled up instantly. Luckily, I could walk on it, it just hurt like hell. I went to Quick Care (they should come up with a new name, because they're anything but quick. Although, they are faster than the Emergency Room), hours and an x-ray later, I was thrilled to hear it wasn't broken. Just a severe sprain. I should be as good as new in 4-6 weeks when my ligaments heal.

Needless to say, Frank and I make a great pair. Despite our desperate need to get away, we cancelled our night at The Signature. With any luck, decent rates will be available when we are both feeling better.

April 17, 2007

Wedded Bliss

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Today is Frank and my anniversary. Three years ago today, we tied the knot at Mandalay Bay, in front of 80 of our closest family and friends. We celebrated over a late lunch at Luxor's buffet. Later, our friends and family joined us on Fremont Street, it was great fun. Frank and I snuck off for a quick bite at Subway because we were starved, how romantic is that? Before retiring to our suite at Mandalay Bay we played $20 in a triple diamond slot machine at the Plaza, we won $325. It was a perfect way to begin our long awaited journey as husband and wife.

Unfortunately, we won't be seeing each other today. Therefore, we will be celebrating our anniversary this weekend. Sunday we will stay at the Signature and will likely have dinner at Stack.

April 12, 2007

Construction photos

Palazzo @ Venetian








Encore @ Wynn




Trump

April 10, 2007

House Hunting

We’ve concluded that our dreams of purchasing a high rise condo is not likely anytime soon, so we’ve decided to focus on purchasing a single family home. We’re not ready to move yet; we need to wait until Frank transfers back to Las Vegas. Which could be as early as June, but another six months or longer is more likely. We’re mainly researching our options at this point, so we are prepared when the time comes.

We’re seeking a house with a garage and patio for BBQ’s. We also like natural light, a large living room, master bedroom and bath, and we want space to use as an office. Sounds easy enough, right? Yeah, it’s more complicated than you’d think…

We like the far west and southwest parts of the Las Vegas Valley. So far, we’ve been most interested in new developments in Summerlin. This past weekend we found a house that we could call home. It’s the Napa Valley model located in the Ladera Ridge Development by KB Homes within the Mesa community of Summerlin. The only downside of the floorplan was the separate shower and tub in the master bath are each too small for Frank. We visited the KB homes Studio to see what upgrades are available, but their options will not suit our needs. Their advice was to have KB homes sub out the work to have the master bath customized to our specifications. Which is a possibility, but I imagine we’d pay far more going that route than if we were to handle it ourselves. Then again, I would want a new home move-in ready and free of “diy” projects.

There’s another builder in the same area so we’ll see what they have to offer. We’ll also continue to seek out other communities, as well as, resale homes. If we go the resale route I think we’ll be able to get more for our money and closing will be a bit easier.

April 2, 2007

A Decade of Love

10 years ago, yesterday, Frank worked up enough courage to tell me he liked me. I replied, really? I like you, too. We stood there beaming with grins ear to ear... next, we both uttered, I don't know if I should hug you or kiss you? I suggested we do both and we did. We've been inseparable ever since. We are so fortunate that we found each other early in life, I am forever grateful. We've had a wonderful 10 years together, I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.

April 17 will be our third wedding anniversary. It's astounding how quickly time goes by. In honor of our anniversaries we've booked a night in a junior suite at The Signature. I can't wait to get a taste of what high rise life would be like.

March 27, 2007

Things get better with age, even birthdays.

I had a wonderful birthday on Sunday, in fact it was one of the best that I can remember. It was sunny and 80 degrees - absolute perfection. My day of bliss began at Harrah’s Spa. Frank booked me a 50 minute facial. He dropped me off and he walked over to Mirage to play some poker. I used the eucalyptus steam shower and then lounged near the whirlpool while I waited for my appt. I enjoyed the treatment, but I think I'll stick to massages for my b-day (I felt a bit freakish due the redness that lingered).

Afterwards, I walked over to Mirage to meet Frank at Carnegie Deli. Had to grab a couple of our favorite cookies. With cookies in hand, we headed to our nook outside of the coffee shop near the parking garage. We relaxed and nibbled on our treats. We returned to the car and I requested that we drive down the strip because I wanted to check out construction progress and see the site where Stardust used to be. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly buildings go up in this town. There’s nothing but rubble from the Frontier to Circus Circus. Weird.

It was a lovely day and we wanted to take advantage of it, so we decided to visit Ethel M's Cactus Garden. Disappointing trip, landscaping was a mess and much of the cacti looked like it suffered from the cold temps we had this winter.

Next, Frank got the idea to check out some new homes. We looked at condos with garages. We found a real nice one, everything was great except the living room was too small. After that we visited Rhodes Ranch for what we call Real Estate Porn. It's a gorgeous master planned community that surrounds a man-made lake and golf course. Homes have spectacular strip and mountain views. We looked at "The Collection" subdivision which has homes in the $500-800k price range. There was only one house we really liked, it was $770,000. There was a ton of natural light and views from the loft and master bedroom were out of this world.

Afterwards, we returned home and watched some TV to rest up before our dinner reservations at STACK at 6pm. Dinner was fantastic, as usual. We adore the place, it's like it was meant for us. It has great ambiance and music, with excellent food and service to match. This time we had the wings as a starter, unlike any buffalo wings I've ever had. They were tasty and so cute. We followed with a split Caesar. Next up, was petite filet and tater tots for me; and lamb shank and XL potato for Frank. Pure Ecstasy. When I thought I could eat no more, warm chocolate with vanilla ice cream was delivered with a lit candle and a happy birthday message. Frank had it arranged earlier in the day. It was heavenly, and I don't particularly like cake. Gluttony is, by far, my favorite sin.

My fabulous day still wasn't over. We had tickets to Spamalot at Wynn at 8pm. We walked over and enjoyed the perfect weather. We were surprised by all the changes to the theater, very different from when Ave Q played; it is now very tailored to fit the Spamalot theme. We had seats 116, 117 in the Mezzanine Row E... dead center, high-up, but we could see the entire show. I really don't think there could be a bad seat because the theater is so well designed. It was a full house. The theater erupted into laughter hundreds of times. It was silly and incredibly entertaining. Spamalot seems to be very well received. The cast was fantastic and received a standing ovation. We had a ball, my cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing for 90 minutes. Great show, definitely one of my favorites.

My birthday was drawing to a close, we saw the Bellagio fountains in the distance. Frank asked if I wanted to go there. I smiled real big and said yes. We saw "Luck be a Lady" while sitting in traffic. It was a bit of a cluster so we weren't able to get into the turning lane to enter the garage. So, we didn't make it to Bellagio, Frank offered to turn around and try again, but I declined. I suggested we go next week, instead.

March 13, 2007

So long, Stardust...

Early this morning, Mike, Amy, Jeff and Matt came by my place. We piled into my car and headed toward the strip to witness the Stardust Implosion. We parked in Deju Vu's parking lot and walked along Industrial Rd. to Stardust Rd. At 2:30 am, a spectacular 4-minute firework display kicked off the Stardust's last hurrah. By 2:34, we watched the towers crumble before our eyes. An extrodinary sight to see. KLAS-TV has the best video around, their footage includes a countdown that we were unable to see from our vantage point.

Fun Facts:

  • At 315-feet tall Stardust was tallest building imploded on the Las Vegas strip
  • Also, it makes it the fourth tallest building ever imploded
  • 428 lbs of explosives to sent the towers tumbling in 10 seconds
  • Construction of Echelon Place will begin as soon as the site it clear
  • The project is expected to open in 2010 and cost 4.4 billion dollars

Thanks for the memories!

March 12, 2007

Review: Garduno's

I escaped work today on my lunch break, Frank and I were undecided on where to go, but as we passed the Palms we saw that Garduno’s now offered patio seating. Despite us being less than impressed on our last two visits, we were swayed by the outdoor dining since it was such a gorgeous day.

However, when we got inside we were told it’d be a 15-minute wait to sit on the patio. I didn’t have time to spare so we settled on sitting indoors. We glanced over the menu and quickly decided on the Fajita’s Express option. For $10 and some change you have your choice of Beef or Chicken Fajitas made-to-order, cheese enchilada, chicken burrito, rice, beans and all the fixings. And it is all-you-can eat.

Our expectations weren’t high, but as it turned out, we were thoroughly impressed. The meal was 100 times better than our prior visits when we ordered off the menu. Everything was tasty and fresh, the beef was tender; we actually preferred it over the chicken. Fresh chips and salsa topped off the meal. All in all, it was pretty good and reasonably priced. The check was $22 before tip. Service was average. I wouldn’t hesitate to return for lunch, it’ll be nice to add another option to the rotation.

March 10, 2007

Review: KA, Revisted

More than a year ago we saw KA at MGM. We thought it was spectacular and we’ve been anxious to see again since, but we wanted to wait until discounted tickets were offered to locals. It took sometime, but 50% off tickets finally became available. Initially, I planned to get tickets for April, but when I realized that wouldn’t be possible. I called and reserved tickets 3 days in advance. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to select seats; I was told that the discounted tickets are automatically chosen. Best available seats for Friday’s 7pm performance were in section 103, Row P, seats 20-21. I questioned whether or not the seats were toward the center of the theater or on the outer edge. I was assured by the ticket agent that they were toward the center so I purchased the tickets at $68.75 each.

When we arrived to the theater I was disappointed to learn that I was misled. The seats were the last two in the outer aisle. Luckily, there were no obstructions. We were able to view the entire performance and from that perspective we also saw the moving parts of the stage. Nonetheless, I would’ve preferred and I recommend centrally located seats.

The show got started a couple minutes late. Then, ten-minutes into it, it appeared that something was wrong… sure enough, an announcement was made that they were experiencing technical difficulty and a short pause was in order. About five-minutes later, another announcement was made inviting us to the lobby for a brief intermission. People were confused, we overheard a few ask staff whether or not this was part of the show. After a twenty-minute lull the show resumed. The cast picked up where they left off, but the flow was interrupted and it really hurt the performance. The crowd was very disconnected. It became awkward at the end; the cast appeared for applause, but the theater was quiet. After the show we felt like we had witnessed both the best and worst performances of KA. Also, we were a little surprised to see that no changes had been made to show since we last seen it. Overall, we didn’t enjoy it nearly as much the second time around and I feel for the folks who paid full price because we did not receive a top-notch performance.

Flashback: KA Review

From 12-05-05:

Finally, I bit the bullet and forked over the cash to see KA at MGM. Figured the tickets would be a great birthday present for Frank. We attended the 10:30pm performance on Saturday, December 3rd. I purchased tickets 2 weeks in advance and requested seats in section 202 row EE. (Section 202 AA-DD are $150; EE-NN are $125) EE wasn’t available so I agreed to row FF and we were assigned seats 29 and 30 – just a few seats to the right from the center of the room. Our seats were great, no complaints whatsoever.

From the moment you walk into the theatre you feel, as though, you’ve been whisked away to a far-off village. Moreover, the pre-show entertainers help to pull off the feel of a working village. The lights dim and the epic journey begins…After the fall of the empire, twin brother and sister, are forced to follow their own destinies on separate paths. The tale of the twins takes you from sea, to the mountains and thru the rainforest. Along their journeys, each of the siblings learns to overcome fear as they learn to survive the elements, as well as, their enemies. Ultimately, the twins reunite, the battle is won, and the reconstruction of the village can begin -- Good conquers evil.

Throughout the show we were in awe. The stage is a technological modern marvel, and the cast of performers are full of tremendous strength and grace. Their talents are absolutely astonishing! KA is, of course, a Cirque du Soleil show, but it’s taken a step further and to an entirely new place unlike any show I’ve seen before.

My favorite scenes took place after the shipwreck. First, the feeling of being underwater felt so real I was completely taken back, the simplistic movements were of great beauty – it gave me goose bumps head-to-toe. Next, I adored the seashore scene. The sea creatures were comedic; I especially enjoyed the crabs and turtle. And later, the shadow puppets were amazing, I never thought I’d find shadow puppets so captivating, but I did. Without a doubt, the most interesting aspect of the show is the way the acrobatics are disguised within the story. You have to really think about what is really happening before your eyes. All the work that goes into making this show possible is extremely extraordinary.

The ticket price is high, but don’t let that deter you, its money well spent and I highly recommend the show. Frank thought it was a great gift and he thoroughly enjoyed the show, as well.

Review: Morton's The Steakhouse

We’ve been talking about trying Morton's Steakhouse for a couple years now, but for one reason or another we never made it happen. Last year, I cashed in credit card reward points for $100 gift certificate so we’d have an excuse to finally cross it off the ever-growing “places to dine” list. We needed a place to grab a bite before seeing KA, it seemed like a perfect fit. I made reservations a day in advance for 5pm Friday.

We were among the first of a few tables to arrive. As our meal continued on, the dining room began to fill. Nice old-school atmosphere with Sinatra playing in the background. We were on limited time so we got perturbed waiting for menus. We didn’t realize the menus don’t come until the end of the presentation. Which adds some kitsch, we know what meat and veggies look like so we would’ve rather got straight to the point, but I digress.

We ordered a Caesar salad and jumbo shrimp cocktail to start. The Caesar was ordinary; heavy on dressing and the lettuce was limp. The shrimp cocktail was excellent. Additionally, the bread served is warm, flaky, buttery, with a hint of onion and poppy seed – delicious. Next, for the main course Frank selected the Chicago-style bone-in ribeye, I choose the double-cut filet mignon and we opted to share the baked potato and garlic green beans. The seasoning used on the steaks was saltier than we like. Frank was unimpressed by his bone-in, he claimed it was among the worst he’s had, considerable amount fat to work around and it wasn’t nearly as tender or juicy as similar steaks he’s had at Delmonico, STACK, SW. etc. I was pleased with my filet as it was tender and full flavored. The baked potato was just that and the garlic green beans were a standout.

Overall, the menu offers traditional steakhouse fare, service was excellent throughout the meal, and our total for dinner was $150 before tip. Although, I enjoyed the experience more than Frank, I felt that the meal was overpriced. In the future, I’d rather visit comparatively priced steakhouses in town that offer better quality steaks and/or more creative menus.

February 22, 2007

Home Away From Home

Our place in Laughlin is coming along... most of the major purchases are complete, at least for the time being. We're a bit anxious to get started on updating the bathrooms and kitchen, but that's on the back burner until we get some money saved.

Living Room:

Patio & Dining Area:


Kitchen:
Guest Bedroom/Computer Room:
Frank's Newest Toy:
Guest Bath - shared by guest bedroom & main living area:
Master Bedroom:
New plantation blinds that I installed:
Masterbath:
New Washer & Dryer:
Views from bedroom windows:

February 6, 2007

Review: The Producers

After dinner, we caught the 8pm performance of The Producers. Tickets were only $60/pp because I took advantage of the promotion offered to locals during preview performances. We had seats 38/39 in row G; I believe that’s on the border of the green and red section, if ordering via Ticketmaster. Our seats were good, but I would’ve preferred to be closer to the stage. If you’re debating seating selection I’d suggest narrowing down the options to Blue ($143), Green ($128) or Red ($108). I believe it would be best to forget the yellow ($75) section altogether and blue would offer optimum viewing. The theater has undergone little change since it was home to We Will Rock You; as far as I could tell, it was identical except for the sets.

As we had expected, the show was entertaining and we both enjoyed it. The performers are talented and there are lots of laughs throughout the musical. Brad Oscar plays Max Bialystock and Larry Raben stars as Leo Bloom. Leigh Zimmerman spices things up as Ulla. The trio works splendidly together. The theater erupted when David Hasselhoff appeared as Roger Debris. He depicts the flamboyant role fabulously. Overall, it was a lot of fun. The show was seamless despite it being a preview performance. The cast earned a standing ovation, the crowd seemed pleased and only positive things were overheard.

I don't feel that it makes the list of must-see shows, but if you have interest, I think it's worth the ticket price. While it wasn’t my favorite Broadway show that’s made it’s way to Las Vegas, it'll be interesting to see if The Producers has what it takes to succeed.

Review: Mon Ami Gabi

Surprisingly, we never got around to trying Mon Ami Gabi until last night. We had tickets to The Producers at 8pm so it seemed like a perfect fit; I made reservations for 6pm a week in advance. For a few years now, I’ve heard nothing but solid praises for the food, value and ambience at Mon Ami Gabi. I wish I could say our experience earned such regards. And I’m sure I’ll ruffle some feathers, but the entire meal was lackluster, the service was slow, and we witnessed the most disorganized staff I’ve encountered in recent memory.

Upon arrival we had to wait in line to give our name to the hostess. Then it took three girls tapping on the computer before they were able to locate our reservation. We, along with the group ahead of us, were herded alongside the bar and told to wait to be seated. A few moments passed and then we were led to our table in a small room with approx. eight tables. The room had two large windows: one overlooks Las Vegas Blvd with a faint view of Bellagio in the distance – and the other had views of the casino floor through the shear drapery. The atmosphere was nice, although the main dining area was bustling and a bit loud.

The wine list was quite impressive; it’s too bad we’re not wine drinkers. We flipped the menu and glanced over the food selection. I had an idea of what I wanted before we arrived so I was quick to settle on the Onion Soup and New York Strip Steak with shallot and burgundy sauce. Frank took longer to make his choice. No entrees on the menu caught his eye, so he instead ordered the Monday night special, filet mignon with truffle cream sauce. We nibbled on the fresh bread while we awaited our soup. It took some time for the waiter to return with our drink order; and when he did he gave the iced tea to me and diet Pepsi to Frank. It should’ve been reversed. This is a minor flaw, one that I’d typically pay little attention to, but in this case it set the tone for the rest of the meal.

Soup was mistakenly delivered to the two men sitting beside us to our right. A few minutes later, soup du jour and crab cakes were brought to us in error. They were intended for the couple seated to our left. After we polished off the tasty French bread our onion soup finally arrived. The soup was good, right on par with other French onion soups I’ve tried. Frank, however, felt the three onion soup at The Range (Harrah’s) is better, both, in taste and presentation. I’ve never been so I can’t compare.

When we finished our soup, the gentlemen dining to our right received their entrees, but they had to wait for flatware before they could dig in, they seemed annoyed. We received ours right after them, as did the table to our left. There was a long lull between the time we finished our soup and when our entrees were delivered. Yet again, they tried to deliver our neighbors’ (to the left) selection. We refused and were beginning to get impatient. Then finally, our entrees were delivered, but Frank was served mine and received his. After a quick swap it was finally time to dig in. We thought the frites reminded us of shoe strings… fancier than French fries, but nothing to be excited about. Both steaks were prepared to our liking. My Strip Steak was fattier and less tender than I expected and the sauce was uninspired. Frank’s filet had more fat and it was less tender than we are used to as well. But, the truffle sauce was wonderful. Frank definitely made the better choice by ordering the special.

Towards the end of our meal, Frank was in need of a refill, the waiter returned with a diet Pepsi. He even noted the mistake, but he never returned with an iced tea. In the meantime, both parties seated beside us had left. We were slightly annoyed because the table to our left was seated after us. When the waiter asked us if we’d like dessert we passed and requested that the check be brought promptly since we had a show to catch. He returned several minutes later to deliver the bill, $88 before tip. Overall, we felt Mon Ami Gabi was overrated and we failed to see the value. Maybe our expectations were too high? Perhaps we caught them on an off night? Could be that we’re jaded… Either way, they didn't earn praises from us.

February 1, 2007

Lounging in Luxury

Last May we splurged and stayed in a salon suite at Wynn, our experience was pleasant, but we encountered several flaws throughout our stay. I wrote a letter sharing my thoughts; in return, we were invited back for one comped night.

The past couple months have been chaotic and stressful; therefore we felt that a night of romance and relaxation was in order. About a month ago, I redeemed the comped offer and booked tickets to Phantom of the Opera. Originally, I wanted to try a new place for dinner, and we settled on Daniel Boulud. But last week, Frank decided he wanted to stick with something reliable and we hadn’t had STACK since Oct. so he wanted to eat there instead. [Thinking we’ll try DB next month when we see Spamalot]. Plans were set; in the meantime we anxiously awaited our local getaway… Then, finally January 28 came and it was time to unwind.

We began our 24 hours of indulgence by having a late breakfast at Hash House a Go Go. It’s been a couple months since our last visit; it’s always nice to re-visit an old friend. I wanted something simple so I selected the vanilla waffle. Frank stuck with his favorite, the pork tenderloin benedict. As usual, service and food were excellent.

We returned home, packed and waited until check-in time at Wynn grew near. We arrived at the Tower Suites valet at 3pm. We proceeded to check-in; no waiting, everything was in order… we were given a choice of a complimentary morning paper, I asked for the USA Today. We were informed that pastries and coffee would be served between 6-8am at Tableau. Then, we were on our way. We were issued keys for Salon Suite 2507, even though I requested a suite on the highest floor possible. The suite was identical to the rooms we had last year except that this one had a different color scheme -- bright, with oodles of yellow tones. I ran around the room snapping pictures while Frank scoped things out.




He decided he wanted a suite on a higher floor. He called down to the desk to have it arranged, we were told that we could move to room 5201. Also, he noted that the side table in the foyedhad cigarette burns [this was supposedly a non-smoking floor]. The décor of the suite was identical to the dark colored schemed suite we had last time.

We settled into the room and then headed straight for the tub. Our favorite aspects of the Salon Suite are the tub and the views out the floor to ceiling windows. After a delightful soak and shower we lounged in bed and enjoyed the lovely view. Well, except for Trump’s gaudy creation… could someone please tell the man that gold can be done tastefully?



We prepared for dinner at STACK and walked over via FSM and the TI tram. When I made the reservation I requested a corner booth, and fortunately our request was honored. After glancing over the tempting offerings we decided to work our way thru the menu and stray from our usual steak selections… we did rely on few favorites, though. We started with the mini kobe chili cheese dogs, they were little bites of heaven. Chili dogs have been forever ruined from this point on. Next, we split a Caesar salad – we enjoy their version, light dressing achieves a lovely balance with the crisp romaine. Entrees followed, Frank had the Lamb Shank served with lentils and watercress and I had Kurabota Pork Chop. We also ordered adult tater tots and XL potatoes to accompany the main course. However, our waiter had forgotten to put the order in; despite the delay the sides arrived in ample time. The presentation of the lamb is lovely and the dish is fantastic to boot. The pork chop was one fine piece of meat – full flavored and juicy. Again, our side dishes did not disappoint. We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the meal. We were much too full for dessert so we passed when it was offered to us, however our waiter had arranged a complimentary treat for us to make up for his error. Although, we were stuffed beyond belief and practically comatose we managed to sample the raspberry munchkins and vanilla dipping sauce - delightfully sweet and tasty. The bill was the cheapest we’ve had at STACK, total came to $108 before tip, a reasonable price to pay for a wonderful dining experience.

From Mirage we sauntered over to Venetian. We had tickets for the 8pm performance of Phantom of the Opera. Our seats 33/34 in row AA were excellent (purchased locals discounted tickets for $82/pp), they were located in the Orchestra Section. We were able to see the stage and chandelier, and we had a little extra leg room since there is only a rail in front of you. The show started a few minutes late. And didn’t end soon enough… As it turns out Phantom isn’t our cup of tea. The music overpowered the performers. You could hardly understand most of the lyrics, so it was a challenge to follow along. Despite hearing wonderful things about the chandelier and it truly didn’t impress us. In all honesty we felt it was a bit cheesy. Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by special effects KA and other production shows. The theater was a packed house, the cast received a standing ovation, and the only negative feedback overheard was that the music was too loud. Consequently, it led us to believe that it must have been well-done production, just not a show that appealed to our tastes.

We left Venetian and walked over to Wynn, when passing through the Esplanade an awful stench of rancid fish filled the air. Perhaps the catch of the day at Bartolotta had past its prime by ten o’clock? Who knows what the cause actually was, but it was ghastly. We meandered around the casino and commented how much we’ve learned to appreciate the property as a whole. After a several visits and a couple stays we see the big picture and get Wynn’s design. The style is far more whimsical than my personal taste, but that’s just one characteristic that sets it apart from the competition. Although, the property demonstrates many strengths it’s still far from flawless… We returned to our suite to find that we didn’t receive turn down service, yet again. We added that to the list of items we felt were insufficient for a property that received 5 diamond awards from both AAA and Mobil. Other items on the list: hand held tub spray was out of order, table under bathroom vanity was dusty and dust bunnies were all along the wall near the climate control unit, there was an ashtray in our non-smoking room and maids carts lined the halls when we had checked in. Admittedly, none of the above spoiled our stay, but I do expect more for the level of service that Wynn Resort claims to provide.

I digressed a bit there, now back to the evening... We got comfortable, turned on some classical music, broke open a nice bottle of Champagne, and lounged in luxury while admiring the spectacular view. I had forgotten to bring along some chocolates, and neither of us were about to leave so we selected Desage Chocolate from the mini-bar. The hazelnut chocolates were delicious, and for convenience sake, it was worth every penny of the $12 we were charged for a box of four pieces. Needless to say we had a splendidly romantic evening.

I woke at sunrise, but the thought of free pastries weren’t enough to lure me from bed. So, I returned to sleep instead. A couple hours later, I was awake and refreshed and drew myself a bath. After a relaxing soak, I showered and then grabbed the paper for Frank. I grabbed magazines from the coffee table and nestled into the chair in front of the window and flipped thru them while I periodically watched construction over at Palazzo.

Frank awoke when I got settled; he showered and then sat beside me to enjoy the sights while reading the paper. He was disappointed to find that it was the WSJ instead of the USA Today as requested. He called and had the proper paper delivered. We read and lounged around until it was time check out.

Tower suites valet promptly delivered our car, the attendant even offered to give directions if needed, nice touch. From Wynn we headed over to Paris for lunch at the Le Village Buffet. The line was short and it moved quickly, Frank teased the cashier saying the $38 total for two was a bargain, but she didn’t find the humor in his sarcasm. We paced our way through all the choices. Most was as good as previous visits, but I was let down to see that the lyonnaise potatoes weren’t the same or as tasty as in the past, also you had to peel your own shrimp. There were a few new items like grilled veggies, dried fruits and surprisingly we enjoyed the sweet potato turkey sausage. It’s the crepes and peanut butter cookies that really make the buffet special and those did not disappoint. It was nice lunch and a pleasant end to our indulgent 24 hours.

Time Flies

I really need a central place to keep tidbits straight... it's a new year, so let's give this another whirl.

We had a chaotic end to 2006 and so far it's been a hectic 2007, but busy is good and we have much to be thankful for:

My mom, Mike, Amy, and her boyfriend, Jeff have all made the move to Nevada. They live in Pahrump (60 miles from me). Having them an hour drive away is quite nice. Still, distance and busy day-to-day life keeps me from seeing them as often as I'd like.

In November, Amy & Jeff welcomed their first son, Nicolas into the world. My mom and I were fortunate enough to be there for his birth. Nicky is growing quickly and he learns to do new things each day. It is a joy to be an aunt.

In December, we had a lovely relaxing vacation in Xpu-ha, Mexico. Then, when we returned home, Frank started his new position as Director of Specialty Games in Laughlin. He lived out of hotel rooms during the work week, and we began our new routine of commuting between Laughlin and Las Vegas on our off days. Luckily, it didn't take too long to find a suitable condo in Laughlin for us to purchase and we were able to close escrow in one months time.

January 17th, 2007 rolled around and we finally had keys to our new home (plus, we were now proud owners of 2 condos). Frank no longer had to hotel hop and there was no need to haul laundry back-n-forth each week. We're still getting settled into the new place and I'm learning how to best manage my time to juggle up-keep of two homes, but we're adjusting. The time away from each other each week can be rough at times, but we have the weekends to look forward to and I think we have more appreciation for the time we do have together.

Frank's getting a handle of his new position and he's getting into the swing of the laid-back Laughlin life. Meanwhile, everything continues to be going well for me at my job, too.

October 17, 2005

White Sox Win!!!

Champagne and Cigars. Ah! The smell of Victory…

Lets take a moment to revel in our ALCS win. It’s taken 46 years to get this far, we need to let it soak in. Now, we’ve claimed our place in the World Series and we’re in it, to win it…

This series went better than we could’ve have hoped. I’m so thankful we scored tickets to game 5 and that Frank and I were there to witness this great moment in baseball history.

Go White Sox!!!

Our seats were in the upper level behind home plate. We had a great perspective of the game. We were amid a sea of red, surrounded by Angels season ticket holders. Our hearts were racing and the flutter of butterflies was felt with each play. The energy was high and the excitement was hard to contain…

Bottom of the 8th we made our way down to the terrace level in hopes of a White Sox victory. When we arrived we were greeted by handfuls of fellow Sox fans. Somehow we all united, we cheered and waited for the moment to get past security in order to get to the dugout. Our opportunity came and from 6 rows back we witnessed it, the WHITE SOX WIN!

From there, we made our way to the second row behind the visitors dug out. We cheered, chanted and rooted for our beloved White Sox. …Na-na-naa-na-hey-hey-hey, goodbye…4 more! 4 more! …Ozzie! You name it, we chanted it. One by one, the players came out to the infield. To share in their joy last night was unreal, unforgettable and priceless - I love the White Sox winning or losing, but damn, it feels amazing to win.

As Frank said, it was like one of those Mastercard commercials:
2 tickets to ALCS Game 5 $300
1 hotel room in Disneyland $92
2 ponchos from Wal-Mart $4
Having Carl Everett and Joe Crede spraying champagne on you… Priceless.

Here are the pictures we really wish all you Sox fans could have been there with us.