Birthday fun

Frank was a sweetheart, he surprised me with a massage and spa appointment for this Saturday at Bally's. I'm very much looking forward to this weekend. Spa on Saturday, good eats and a stay at the Palazzo on Sunday. I'm one lucky girl.

After lounging around a bit we headed out to dinner.

Our Rosemary's reservation was at 7:00. We arrived on time, walked in and it was very overwhelming. We were packed in like sardines. It was loud. We stepped aside and waited to be seated. A few minutes later we were led to our table. We were seated in the dining room at a table to the left of the doors that lead to the bar. Thankfully, the dining room was much more subdued than the bar area. I was grateful for the doors, they muffled the noise, but I’d soon learn how annoying they'd become.

Our waiter asked if we've been there before, I wished I lied and said we had. He went on and on... and on. During his monologue he must have closed that door to the bar area seven times. I resisted making a lame joke about some people being born in a barn. Finally, we were left alone to go over the menu. I had an idea of what I wanted so it didn't take me long to choose my selections. Frank seemed lost; he said nothing was really jumping out at him. There have been a few occasions when this happened before and the meals were bad to down right disastrous. I recognized this and I gave him the out. I asked if he wanted to go. He said, no, we'll stay. He wanted the rack of lamb, but it was served with kalamata olives. He hates olives. I figured they could omit them, especially since they inquired about any allergies or dining restrictions when we first sat down. So, we inquired with our waiter and they were happy to honor his request. We each selected pre-fixe menus, Frank chose soup, salad, entrée, and I opted for appetizer, entrée, and dessert.

We started with seafood salad on a homemade potato chip topped with onion marmalade. It was good, although, salty, but it worked. It was a nice balance of flavor.

Next, we snacked on bread. Two kinds were served: potato and white chocolate pecan glazed with honey. Both were good, I especially enjoyed the latter. I didn’t pick up any white chocolate taste, but it light, airy and moist.

There was a lull while we waited for our first course. It drew our attention to those awful doors. In. Out. Open. Close.

Our appetizers were delivered in unison. Frank had a special, black bean soup with pico de gallo and drizzled with cilantro crème. He first discovered black bean soup in Mexico. This version wasn’t nearly as good, but it was tasty nonetheless. I actually liked it better than my selection, Texas BBQ shrimp with Maytag Cheese slaw. The shrimp seemed overdone. The BBQ sauce was fine. The first bite of the slaw was great and then the bitterness of the blue cheese took over it overpowered any other hint of flavor.

After that, Frank was brought his Caesar salad. The parmesan croutons were huge; they reminded me of children’s building blocks. The romaine was wilted and limp, and simply soaked in dressing. It was too much; we both appreciate a lightly dressed crisp salad. We didn’t finish it.

Again we were left with a long break between courses. This only brought our attention back to those doors. In. Out. Open. Close. We figured it must have been thirty-seven times – thirty eight – thirty nine – C’mon forty! Forty times those doors opened and closed and we hadn’t even dug into our entrées yet.

Finally, we were presented with our entrées. Presentation was nice, we were anxious to dig in. I chose the special, sea scallops wrapped in prosciutto served over lentils with mushrooms and sun-dried tomato and some sort of red vinaigrette. The scallops were dry as the Mojave, I don’t know if the prosciutto drew out all the moisture or what, but they weren’t very good. They seemed overdone and under seasoned. The dish was tasteless. The lentils were bad – they, too, were bland and only had a deep earthy taste. The sun-dried tomatoes had the most flavor. The sauce looked like Thousand Island dressing, but lacked any type of pizzazz. Frank’s lamb was cooked to perfection, but the meat was chewy and bit fattier than it should be. The bordelaise was plain; his basic mashed potatoes were pedestrian but were the better part of the dish.

I was perplexed at this point. I’ve read countless reviews that gave Rosemary’s great accolades for complexity of flavors and achieving great balance with savory and sweet, etc. The only place I saw that showcased was with the amuse-bouche.

Moving on to dessert. We thought we’d ask our waiter to recommend something. Perhaps, we’d been poorly choosing our dishes? He suggested coconut bread pudding. I laughed. There is nothing Frank hates more than coconut. I can’t stand bread pudding. There was no other dessert on that menu that could have been more of a mismatch. He couldn't possibly of known, so we humored the guy and let him go on about how deliciously moist the bread pudding is because of the coconut milk. He left us alone so we could look over the menu.

Nothing grabbed Frank; the desserts I’ve heard good about weren’t listed so I opted to try the Goat Cheese Cheesecake with caramel coulis and hazelnuts. It was the only option that stood out, the others could be sampled in any restaurant in town. Except the bread pudding, I suppose.

The wait for that cheesecake was far too long. It was ridiculous, really. I regretted ordering it. I wondered if they were milking the goat. We’d been sitting for two hours. We were antsy. The chairs aren’t comfortable. Those doors were driving me batty. Yes, it still continued. In. Out. Open. Close.

At last, dessert was served. It was good, too. They brought dessert with a lit candle and a “Happy Birthday” message. I’m certain that caused the lengthy delay. While thoughtful, I would’ve preferred not having to wait. Happily, our check was delivered at that time. A huge victory, we thought for sure we’d be held hostage. The bill was $125. My portion of the total was half-off because it was ladies night. Also, due to ladies night, 18% gratuity was also applied to the total. Service was decent, but slow, and the first round of refills took a bit. I’m not sure the 18% was warranted. When deserved, we tip at least 20% and often more. I’m not a fan of having the tip included. However, I understand that people do tend to under-tip when discounts are applied. I’m sure that’s what prompted the charge.

Lastly, three treats were delivered: a buckeye, lemon tart and coconut something. Frank hates lemon desserts nearly as much as coconut, so the buckeye was they one safe option for him. He bit into it and he was disgusted. I couldn’t understand why, it should be chocolate and peanut butter. I took a taste and it was awful. It tasted spoiled; it was bitter and just bad. I took a bite of the lemon tart to get rid of the buckeye taste. Now that was bitter, it was liked a bite out of a whole lemon. Not a good combination. Fortunately, I saved the best for last the coconut creation was very good. It was simply sweet with great texture.

As you might guess, we didn’t have a great experience, but we still had a nice time. We made the most of it. However, I’m still puzzled. It felt like I went to a completely different restaurant than the one I read about in review after review. It was indeed in a strip-mall, the atmosphere was non-descript, they do serve harmoniously, and will switch out napkins to coordinate with the color of your clothing – my expectations were met on all of those accounts. But I was under the impression that the food is the star, and frankly it should be, it’s what matters most. However, that’s were Rosemary’s fell short last night. I failed to see the value, and our meal was discounted. Despite it all, I’m glad we gave it a try. I only wish it were a better experience.

29 years!

For many women their 29th birthday is their last. From then on, they swear they only have anniversaries of their 29th birthday. I have no qualms about getting older. Heck, I've been looking forward to 55 since I had my first taste of Sun City living when we stayed with Frank's grandparents (after moving from Chicago). We were 23 at the time, we started the countdown... 32 years until we can live in a 55 and older community. Only 26 more to go now.

The weirdest thing about turning 29 is thinking about the things I set out to accomplish by the time 30 rolled around. What is it about 30, anyway? Why is that the deadline or turning point? I suppose when you're younger it seems like the age you should be stable and have your shit together. I'm proud to say, I'm happy where I am at. I met goals, I took risks, sure there were a few bumps in the road, but it got me here; and I learned a lot along the way. There's not much I'd change, if I had the chance to do it again.

I'm throwing out the road map, that plan from my teens doesn't expire at 30. Italy isn't going anywhere. We're shooting for 2011. I doubt I'll take any less from the experience if I see it then, instead of before my 30th birthday. I previously thought if we wanted kids, I wanted to birth them before 30. Well, that ain't happening. I'm no more ready for a family today than I was ten years ago. I'm ready to just enjoy today and we'll see what tomorrow brings. As long as there is tomorrow, there is no deadline.

What a weekend!

Saturday, I met the Vegas Message Board gang at Binion’s for the annual March Madness Poker Tournament. Believe it or not, I’ve never played in a live game or tournament before. Frank plays often, but I’ve never had much interest. While he plays I see the sights, take photos, play silly penny slots or chase after a royal on video poker. I figured there was no better way to pop my poker cherry than to play with the VMB crew. It was fun, I learned a bit before I busted out. The tournament took a record five hours to complete, I hung around until the end. In the meantime, I visited with everyone who also busted out. It was nice to put faces to familiar names and see others again. It’s been a long time since I made one of the planned events – life always seems to get in the way. I had a good time. Hopefully, I’ll make it to more get togethers in the future.

When I got home, Frank was wiped out from work. The preparation leading up to March Madness and the crowds kept him on his toes. He was ready for a break. He suggested we book Sunday night at the Signature. Earlier in the week, we were sent a promotion for $129/night which included a $50 resort credit. I checked availability for Sunday, it was available; I booked it. Gotta love a last minute staycation!

Frank worked Sunday morning but he was able to cut out at 12:30, he took the monorail and met me in the room after I checked it.

What can I say about the Signature that I haven’t said before? After five stays it’s still my favorite place to getaway. The accommodations feel like home, but more relaxed. Customer service is great. Although, this visit, valet and the bell desk were quite slow. You could tell they were understaffed and those scheduled did the best they could given the circumstances. Aside from that we had another flawless stay.

We ordered room service for lunch. We shared chicken tenders and a roast turkey club. Both were far better than I anticipated. We were told it’d be a 30 minute wait, but it took about half that time for the food to be delivered.

We admired the view, soaked in the tub, relaxed in bed, shared a bottle of wine and just enjoyed being together without distractions.

Frank made dinner reservations for Fiamma. This was our third visit. I inquired about the complimentary wine pairing available to locals. It was still available. Our waiter also informed us that entrees were two for one for locals. I was aware, but it was nice that he pointed that out. We opted to order off the menu this time since we’ve tried all the dishes offered on the tasting menu.

We snacked on Ciabatta bread with oil and vinegar while they prepared our appetizers.

The first course was paired with Prosecco. We shared an order of calamari – succulent, as always, and buffalo mozzarella with pesto and roasted tomatoes – fresh and delicious. A nice light accompaniment to the calamari.

For the second course, I was served a Sauvignon Blanc to go with Scallops served over Swiss chard and cannellini beans topped with speck. The scallops were perfectly seared, meaty, yet tender. It was a delicious dish. Frank chose the lamb shank served with gnocchi and wild mushrooms, his dish was paired with a Valpolicecella. The preparation was even better than Stack’s our previous favorite place for lamb shank. The au jus made the dish. The gnocchi were superb we wouldn’t hesitate ordering a gnocchi dish in the future.

Moscato was served with dessert. Frank had tiramisu – his favorite. It did not disappoint. I chose panna cotta with white balsamic honey,dried mission figs and marcona almonds. Pure bliss. It was light and not too sweet. It was a perfect end to a fabulous meal.

Service was exceptional. It was one of our top three dining experiences. Everything came together beautifully. We walked out for less than $100 – it was an absolute steal.

We hit the casino after dinner, we didn’t have much to spend, but I suggested Frank play his favorite machine. Some sort of dollar slot near Wolf Gang Puck’s restaurant. He can usually hit $100 payout with ease. A few spins in, he hit a hundred dollar jackpot – thank you. We took that money and played a few things with no luck. Then, we sought out dollar jacks or better. We played a bit, no nice hands per usual, but I did manage to hit a flush and a couple three of a kinds which left us with a $40 profit. That covered dinner (combined with the resort credit). We were pleased. We quit while we were ahead and retired to our suite.

We were reluctant to leave and be forced back into the real world, but next weekend we’re booked at the Palazzo. So, another night of relaxation and indulgence is less than a week away. Knowing that seemed to make reality easier to bear.

In case you missed Signature photos before, here are a few of the room and view. This visit we were in tower three on the 32nd floor.

From Signature

From Signature

From Signature

From Signature

Odd things that bring joy

It’s funny to think about the things that excite you as an adult. I remember, one year, in my teens, my mom asked for a drill bit set for mother’s day. I thought it was an odd request, but she asked for it so I got it for her. She still says it was one of the best gifts – she’s gotten a ton of use out of it. Heck, I've borrowed it numerous times. However, I never imagined getting excited over appliances or household items, but I do.

I’ve received all sorts of practical gifts from Frank over the years – gym shoes, blender, vacuum, bowling ball, cell phone, pizelle maker, etc. This year, for my birthday, I asked for a carpet cleaner. Sure, I’d rather get a massage and have a spa day, but when times are tough, practical is good. He told me to shop around and pick one out. I found a Hoover SteamVac on Amazon with great reviews. It seems to be just what I need so I went ahead and ordered it last week. It arrived today. You gotta love early birthday gifts. I’m anxious to try it.

The carpeting on the stairs leading to the second floor and in the bedrooms is a light berber. We’ve wore dirt into the heavy traffic areas. It’s well overdue for a good cleaning. I really hope this SteamVac doesn’t let me down.

Weekends are never long enough

We had fabulous weather this weekend. It’s just a shame it was over in a flash.

Saturday was a full day of shopping; no, not for shoes or purses, but guns and ammo. First, I did get my groceries out of the way. Then, I met Frank at work, and we headed over to Tropicana for the Crossroads Gun Show. We’re looking to get another gun; this one will be suited for me. The grip on the Glock is great for Frank, but I have much smaller hands so it’s not perfectly comfortable to handle. Last year, while in Phoenix, I really liked the Ruger .45. We know we’re in the market for a .45, but the Ruger’s I’ve handled in stores haven’t been a good fit. A while back, I found a Taurus .45 I liked a lot at Bass Pro-Shops, but I found that early on and I wanted to be sure we buy exactly what I want. We’ve kept looking, but I seem to keep falling back to the Taurus.



The Gun Show was a madhouse. We drove around for a good 10-15 minutes looking for a parking spot. Admission was $14; we thought that was a bit steep. We’ve never been to show before so maybe that’s the norm? We stopped by the few tables selling fire arms. I tried every .45 they had available and wouldn’t you know it, it was the Taurus I liked best. Prices for the guns weren’t great deals so I wasn’t pressed to buy on the spot. There’s no doubt I know what I want, but I want to hit the range and try out a couple models because I’m undecided on the barrel length. The only way to make that decision is to fire off a few rounds and get a feel for each type. So, there’s more research to be done.

After checking out the guns, we hit the two ammo vendors. They had more varieties than I ever knew existed. We knew we wanted to stock up on 9mm. It’s been hard to find in stores lately. Wal-Mart has the best prices around and they can’t keep a supply. I was told I have to call at 7am when they receive shipments and come down ASAP because they sell out so fast. I want ammo damn it, not a Wii. It shouldn’t be that complicated. Anyway, I spotted one 1000 round box, I hurried up and grabbed it. Good thing I did, it was the last box. Since we know we’re going to pick up a .45 in the near future we went ahead and bought rounds for that, as well. We were a few hundred dollars lighter, but it was a good price and it’ll be nice not having to track down ammo; we’re stocked for quite awhile.

We went around to the other tables, we bought a Glock holster for $20, but we didn’t find anything else we were in the market for. I was surprised by the number of tables selling food – jerky, nuts, candy, trinkets, and whatnot. I didn’t expect that, I thought there would be more vendors selling weapons and ammo, but the majority was accessories and junk, in my opinion, anyway.

Sunday, we never went off-roading. Instead, Frank worked on the Jimmy and I tackled another landscaping project in the backyard. I filled another six garbage bags of leaves and trimmings. There’s still much more to do. The work is endless, I tell ya. Unfortunately, Frank had no luck with the Jimmy, he decided to rewire the entire electrical system, but he ran into troubles and the truck won’t even start at this point. Our friend, Shane, is a mechanic whiz; luckily he’ll be visiting in April. He and Frank should be able to get it in tip-top shape in a few weeks. It’s just a shame it’s not operational, the weather is just perfect for a day in the desert – rock climbing and running trails. In the meantime, we can do stock trails with the Suburban. So, all is not lost. I’m just hoping Frank isn’t stuck working all weekend, because of March Madness. We’ll see how that pans out.

Short on time

So, instead of posting about my weekend, I'll share a recipe. I tried it out on Friday night. It came together very easily and it was quite tasty. A definite winner in my book, Frank enjoyed it, as well. I served it over rice with a side of asparagus.

Sautéed Chicken Breasts with Balsamic Vinegar Pan Sauce

1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 (5-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots

Combine broth, vinegar, and honey.

Melt butter and oil in a large nonstick skillet over low heat.

While butter melts, sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish. Dredge chicken in flour; shake off excess flour.

Increase heat to medium-high; heat 2 minutes or until the butter turns golden brown. Add chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove chicken from pan; keep warm. Add shallots, and sauté 30 seconds. Add the broth mixture, scraping to loosen browned bits. Bring to a boil, and cook until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 3 minutes). Serve sauce over chicken.

Nutritional Information
Calories:269 (27% from fat) Fat:8.1g (sat 2.7g,mono 2g,poly 2.5g) Protein:34g Carbohydrate:13.1g Fiber:0.2g Cholesterol:90mg Iron:1.7mg Sodium:331mg Calcium:29mg

Successful First Run

Yesterday, Frank got home from work early, around 5:30, he told me to get dressed - we were going shooting. We took the Surburban out on it's voyage run. What'd it take? 2 days to break it in? Heh. It handled the trails like a champ. We weren't sure how it'd do on the steep trails and drop-offs because of the length, fortunately we had no issues. We found a clear area to shoot and got set up.

From Drop Box

He fired a few shots on the shotgun, and then we took turns with the Glock. I was rusty at first not having been out, since Bob was in town back in Dec. But after my first clip, I was back. It felt good to enjoy the fresh air, tranquility of the desert and release some aggression with a few clips. The sun began to set, so we packed up, and headed back to reality.

From Drop Box

I drove the Suburban back on the way home. It handles like a car, I like that. Driving the Jimmy is a work out, between the rear lockers and the lack of power steering. Backing up will take time to get used to, I've never drove such a long vehicle before. I'll learn...

It sounds like, Sunday, we'll head out to Wheeler's Pass or maybe Death Valley. Either will be great.

Upcoming fun stuff

I have a birthday coming up and our anniversary is right around the corner. Both are good excuses to enjoy some tasty food, splurge a little and treat ourselves.

I've decided I'd like to finally try Rosemary's Restaurant for my birthday dinner. It falls on a Wednesday, which happens to be ladies night, so I can get my meal at half price. I love a deal. Plus, for years now, I've heard wonderful things about Rosemary's. However, for whatever reason, we've opted to hit top-rated restaurants on the strip vs. the one that's only minutes away. Needless to say, it's about time we try it. I hope we find it as delicious as everyone else.

The original idea was to dine at Brand inside Monte Carlo for our anniversary. We've been wanting to check it out since it opened, but it seems something else is always coming up and we keep putting it on the back burner. This time is no different.

Yesterday, I received a promotion from Palazzo for $109/night with $25 free slot play and $10 off at Aquaknox, along with other goodies. I ran it by Frank and we booked a night at the end of the month to celebrate both occasions. We figured we'd take the opportunity and try Aquaknox, as well. Co-workers have sung praises about their seafood; although, I've read mixed reviews on-line I'd still like to give it a shot. I'm curious to see how it compares to Seablue at MGM.

We'll use our reward certificates and try Brand another time.

I hope the next two weeks fly by. I am hungry already.

Pork Chops with Carolina Rub

I made these pork chops with a side of grilled asparagus. The chops were juicy and they had a nice smoked-BBQ taste. Frank was pleasantly surprised how well they turned out.

Ingredients
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 (4-ounce) center-cut pork loin chops
Cooking spray
1/4 cup barbecue sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's)

Prepare grill.

Combine first 7 ingredients in a small bowl. Rub pork with spice mixture; let stand 10 minutes.

Place pork on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill 4 minutes. Turn pork; grill 2 minutes. Brush each chop with 1 tablespoon sauce, and grill 2 minutes or until desired degree of doneness.

Nutritional Information
Calories:185 (34% from fat)
Fat:6.9g (sat 2.4g,mono 3g,poly 0.7g) Protein:24.6g Carbohydrate:5g Fiber:0.8g Cholesterol:65mg Iron:1.1mg Sodium:477mg Calcium:35mg

Unicorn found

The search wasn't nearly as long or as daunting as I thought it might be. Frank found his unicorn, or maybe it's more of a stallion. In any case, we bought a 1999 GMC Suburban 2500 with a V8 454/7.4 Liter engine, 4WD, and towing package. It's a bit worn, but the miles are low for it's age, it runs like a champ and it has a ton of power, which we'll definitely put to the test.

From House photos

Frank got it smogged and registered yesterday. It only took three hours at the DMV. Yeah, it's laughable. Last week, he spent nearly five hours waiting to turn in the Monte Carlo plates, change the address and renew registration on the Jimmy. Too bad we didn't have the Suburban at that time, it could've saved him a few hours of his life.

We've done a fine job of filling up the drive way. It used to appear large, but now it's pretty tight with the two trucks. There's a little canal left for me to put out/into the garage.

From House photos

Now, we need to save up and shop for a trailer. Then, we'll be ready for road trips. Moab here we come.

Time in the kitchen

These are a few things I whipped up this past weekend:

Mexican Eggs

From baking/cooking

Easy as can be, just scramble desired number of eggs and right before they're done add salsa and blend together.

I make my own salsa. Loose recipe follows below, since so much is done by taste.

1 28 oz of canned whole tomatoes, drained
1 large white onion
2 small jalapeno peppers
cilantro
garlic
salt

In a food chopper or processor, lightly chop whole tomatoes, add to large bowl. Do the same for the onion. cilantro and peppers (if you don't like heat, remove membrane and seeds), add garlic (I used the refrigerated chopped garlic) and salt to taste. Mix all ingredients well in the large bowl and let sit to allow the flavors to blend before eating.

Pecan Crusted Chicken and Brussels Sprouts with Pecans

From baking/cooking

The chicken is tried and true, I've made it three times before. However, this was my first time trying the brussels sprout recipe from Cooking Light. I thought they came out alright. The leaves cooked down and they were kinda limp, I prefer my sprouts to have much more bite.

Lemon Lush

From baking/cooking

1 container of cool whip
1 pkg cream cheese
4 c of milk
3 sm pkg of instant lemon pudding
1 1/2 c flour
1 c powdered sugar
1 1/2 sticks of butter

Mix butter and flour together and spread into a non-stick 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Cool completely.

Mix cream cheese, 1 cup of cool whip and powdered sugar together. Spread on top of cooled crust. Beat pudding mix and milk together until it starts to thicken, pour over cream cheese layer.

Cover with rest of cool whip. Chill until ready to serve.

I halved the recipe and used non/low-fat and sugar free products where available. I had trouble with the crust. I couldn't get the cream cheese to spread without the crust falling apart. Also, the lemon pudding had a fake taste to it. Not sure if that's because of the artificial sweetner in the sugar-free variety. Overall, I thought it was ok.

Just another productive weekend

Frank's back home, I picked him up at the airport last night just before midnight. He was thrilled to be home. There's nothing like leaving Las Vegas to make you miss it. He complained about the weather, but he got no sympathy from me, I dealt with below freezing temps, snow and wind. All he had was 40's and 50's with thunderstorms. He fails to see it could've been worse. He gorged on all kinds of good food. He was able to eat all of our favorites. I'm jealous he went to Giordano's, he also ate at White Castle four times. Now that's a bit much, as much as I enjoy a double jalapeno cheeseburger - I have no envy there. It was the chicken rings he couldn't get enough of; I can take 'em or leave 'em. The honey mustard, though, that's good stuff.

I managed to get a lot accomplished while he was away and still set time aside for myself. I did some reading, clothes shopping, and looked for shoes, too, but that search continues. I also did the usual routine cleaning and laundry.

On Saturday, I spent the day with my mom, by her place, which gave me the chance to meet Cha-Cha. Her newest horse, she's smaller than her other two.

From Mom's house

Also saw that her duck has been busy laying eggs

From Mom's house

After two rounds of shot therapy, my mom's back is still causing her grief. So, I helped her run some errands. We had dinner and she suggested we rent Mamma Mia, since we never got around to seeing the show before it closed at Mandalay Bay. We were supposed to go for my birthday gift, last year. I wasn't thrilled by the movie so maybe I wasn't missing out by not seeing the musical.

Sunday, I worked on the backyard. I filled two garbage cans and five trash bags with clippings and leaves. I tackled the side yard, which was never touched last year. Vines had grown wild, there is a garden work bench there that was left by the old owners, you'd never guess it were there because it was covered in vines. Now, it can be seen clear as day. I also cleaned out all the flowerbeds and pots, pruned the rose bushes, trimmed the palms and oleander. It was a productive day. It helped that the sun didn't set until 6:00. I love the longer days, I don't mind springing forward one bit. Although, it'd be nice if we didn't observe daylight savings time at all. It's such a pain to adjust the time on every clock at home, at work and in the car.

Memories

I took a stroll down memory lane, last night. I dug out old photos and scanned them. It is amazing how one little picture can spark such vivid memories.

My 5th birthday

From Memories

Most kids would want to go to Chuck E Cheese, McDonald's or maybe get pizza. But not me, no, I wanted Jardine's, an all you-can-eat restaurant that served peeled shrimp. Even after gorging myself on shrimp I had room for leftover birthday cake.

A day at the Medieval Fair.

From Memories

My grandparents took me, I rode a camel and elephant. The rainbow facepaint was just the topper for a great day.

Hating doctor visits.

From Memories

Growing up I spent quite a bit of time in doctor's offices and hospitals. It was pretty traumatic for me, anytime I had an appointment, I'd run and hide in my parent's closet and hope I wouldn't be found. In hindsight, I should've found a better hiding place.

Fun times with my cousins.

From Memories

I was an only child for seven years, during that time, my cousins kept me company. We were always hamming it up. We put on "shows" at every family gathering. Our dance routine to Thriller was probably my favorite.

My Cabbage Patch Kids tent.

From Memories

I loved to hide out in my tent. There were little pockets sewn on the inside. That was my secret hiding place.

Visits to the city.

From Memories

Buckingham fountain has been my favorite landmark in Chicago as long as I can remember. I loved to watch the colors change at night. Sometimes, if I were good, I'd get a glow necklace from one of the vendors walking about. It was like I got to take a piece of the fountain with me.

The old Comiskey Park.

From Memories

The new park was nice, but it wasn't the same. I still can't bring myself to call it US Cellular Field, it'll forever be Comiskey to me.

Halloween, my favorite holiday.

From Memories

I think this was 1995. For a few years, we held a haunted house in our garage. People came from all over to see it. I dressed up and went trick or treating every year. 1998 was the first year I didn't go. After that the holiday wasn't as fun anymore.

Las Vegas, 1997.

From Memories

Look, Lake Mead has water. Wish I could see it that full again. Frank and I fell for sin city on that trip. We didn't know how or when, but we knew one day we'd call it home.

Las Vegas, 2001.

From Memories

Finally of age! We could drink and gamble!! But we still took time out to watch the fountains. I never would have guessed two years later Frank would propose to me in that very spot.

Las Vegas, 2002.

From Memories

We made a handful of trips by then, we knew the city in and out. We escaped the chaos and spent time under the blistering sun at Red Rock Canyon. Little did I know we'd be Las Vegas residents one year later.

Chris and Karen's wedding.

From Memories

They were the first of our friend's to have babies and get married. We both stood up at their wedding and we had the best time. Shameful to have that cigarette in hand. Boy am I glad I kicked that habit.

It's fun to look back. And I've only scratched the surface there's so many more photos and memories...

Flying solo

Before work yesterday I dropped Frank off at the airport. He got to Chicago just fine. He went with his dad for a follow-up doctor's appointment. He's recovering well. He needs to keep working on his breathing excises and walk around more. Frank will see that he does. They also discussed diet, and clarified the term moderation. That's going to be a tough one, Frank's mom is 100% Italian and she fits the bill to a T. When she's stayed with us all my reduced fat and low calorie options seriously annoyed her. If she wants father-in-law in good health she's going to have to make some changes. I put together a recipe book filled with healthy heart recipes, in hopes to make the transition a bit easier. Frank's enjoying the Chicago eats, but he misses Vegas already. It's going to be a long trip. At least, his brother, Bob, will come up this weekend. That'll help make the days a bit shorter. Friday night the whole family will get together for his mom's birthday. I'm sure that'll be extra special for her.

While he's away, I can go at my own pace. I can get a bunch done or be a lazy bum. The latter isn't too likely, but last night I took time for myself and chilled out watching dvr'd shows and a chick-flick, Definitely, Maybe. It was a better movie than I expected. It helps that Isla Fisher was in it, she's a girl crush of mine.

Since I'm flying solo I can try out a few recipes I know he'd be leary about. Last night's dinner was Brussels Sprout Spaghetti.

From baking/cooking

Brussel sprouts, cleaned and sliced - shredded would work well, too.
shallot, minced
1 tsp butter
thin pasta - I used Ronzoni Spaghetti
juice from half of a lemon
garlic salt and pepper to taste
parmesan cheese

Boil pasta. Saute Brussels sprouts and shallots in half the butter, until fragrant and browning begins. Add drained pasta to the Brussels sprouts and shallots. Add remaining butter and lemon juice. Season to taste and top with parmesan cheese.

I thought it was a good start. I felt it was missing something, it needed pizazz. Red pepper flakes or bacon as suggested could be quite good.

Fontina Stuffed Chicken Breasts

I pulled last night's dinner recipe off epicurious.com. The cooking instructions are contradictory, so I winged it and made a couple changes as noted below.

Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Fontina, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

1 12-ounce jar marinated artichokes, drained, coarsely chopped
1 cup grated Fontina cheese
1/2 cup (packed) drained, coarsely chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
4 5-ounce skinless boneless chicken breast halves
basil, garlic salt and pepper for seasoning

Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix artichokes, cheese, and tomatoes in medium bowl. Using small sharp knife and working with 1 chicken breast at a time, cut 2-inch-long slit horizontally into 1 side of chicken breast. Move knife back and forth in slit to form pocket. Divide cheese mixture among chicken pockets. Press edges to seal. Sprinkle chicken with basil, garlic salt and pepper. Bake for approx 25-minutes until chicken is fully cooked and juices are clear.

Per serving: 483 calories, 32 g fat (9 g saturated), 100 mg cholesterol, 618 mg sodium, 9 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 35 g protein

I thought the chicken was delicious. Frank didn't care for it, he's determined that he really doesn't like artichokes. He's complained the last few times I've made dishes that contain them. Oh well, more for me. I'll get to enjoy a leftover chicken breast for lunch today.

Spring is here

I do believe spring has sprung in Las Vegas. The weather this past weekend was gorgeous. It's amazing how sunshine and warm temperatures can lift your spirits.

Saturday, it was sunny and 70. I opened all the windows in the house and let the fresh air circulate the old stale air while I ran errands and cleaned house.

Sunday was even better, the sun continued to shine but it warmed up somewhere into the upper 70’s. The best part was Frank and I were both off to enjoy it. It was delightful, so often, we’re stuck at work on beautiful days. We took full advantage of the nice weather; Frank worked on the Jimmy while I tended to the front yard. I filled four trash bags with leaves and pine needles that covered the lawn and flower beds. I pruned bushes, trimmed palms and trees, and planted stock flowers I bought with my mom last week. It was a full day, but we were productive. Now that the front yard is done, I can get started on the backyard. There’s so much to be done, it’s a bit overwhelming, and I’m not sure where to begin. I think I’ll get a jump on that this weekend.

Freshly planted flowers

From House photos

The neighbors’ plum tree is in full bloom. It’s lovely.

From House photos

My friend, Andie, offered to tinker with the above photo in photoshop after I complained about the lighting. Below is her finished project. I think someday when I have some extra funds, I may buy the program. I’m always amazed what can be accomplished with a few touch ups.

From House photos

M Resort Opening

Last night we attended M Resort's opening. It is the first of three casinos to open this year. We were pretty excited, because we weren't sure what to expect. We never experienced the Rio under Marnell's ownership, we only heard tales of how they treated the locals. We're not big fans of Boyd or Stations so we had hoped Marnell would offer us a new home.

We arrived at the resort about an hour before the firework display. No one, but VIP guests were allowed to park on property until the resort opened. We found that very strange. Alternatively, we met friends' at Dotty's casino down the street. With time to kill, we decided to go in and grab a beer. This was our first time in a Dotty's, they're not your average video poker bar. The set up is a mix of a convenience store and someone's home. You walk up to the counter for drinks - free if you gamble. There's slots to your left and kitchen tables to your right. Not a single tv in the joint, but the walls are lined with ficus trees and bookcases filled with knick-knacks. Odd, I tell ya.

We figured it was best to walk to M, it seems everyone had the same idea, we all walked in herds down St. Rose Parkway. Traffic was backed up in all directions as far as the eye can see. Build it, and they will come. I don't think that area has ever seen so much traffic. Heck, I don't think Henderson Police knew what do with the size of the crowds. They seemed overwhelmed. We got to the resort just in time for the fireworks to begin. The show was pretty good. Afterwards, we joined the masses for our first look.

Getting inside took sometime. Having to use escalators to enter the casino created quite a bottleneck, but once we were in we liked what we saw. The casino has great style, a nice layout and it's very comfortable. They offer the newest slots and there are plenty of table games. The sportsbook and poker room are located next to each other, both looked great at first glance. Frank played some 4-8 while there. In the meantime, I wondered the property and scoped out the restaurants. I spotted Anthony Marnell outside the Italian restaurant, it was neat to see him and offer my congrats.

We always hope to win a royal like Frank did at Southcoast's grand opening, but once again we had no such luck. It was fun trying, though. Overall, we had a good first impression of M Resort. One of the things I noticed off the bat that sets them apart from others, is the casino has a few self serve beverage stations. I really like this feature, I haven't seen one offered outside of MN or WI Indian Casinos. They also have a pharmacy inside the casino and a gas station with a car wash on site. We look forward to going back once the newness wears away. We want to try the buffet and a couple restaurants (prices appear to be very reasonable).

Time for a change

I've used the same template since I started this blog a few years back. I never liked it much, but it suited me better than the others. It wasn't until today I realized how many free templates are available for download. I might toy around with a couple options until I find a keeper. In the meantime, please excuse the dust.

Seeking a unicorn

That’s what I called it when my mom was looking for her house. She wanted to live outside of Vegas, she wanted horse property, and a sturdy well-constructed home priced just right. She had a handful of other requests, too, which made the search even more challenging. We looked at hundreds of homes and bare land in Sandy Valley, Overton, Meadview, and Pahrump before we found it – the unicorn, the thing that only seemed to exist in dreams. I couldn’t believe it – it took time, but she found just what she wanted.

Now, it’s Frank’s turn to seek a unicorn.

After the Jimmy broke down in the wash and I had to rescue Frank, Mike and Amy, Frank started thinking that we really needed a second four-wheel drive vehicle. One powerful enough to handle recoveries and tow the Jimmy for long trips (we really want to go to Moab, but the Jimmy doesn’t handle the highway well).

While I was away, Frank found a Suburban for sale on Craigslist. He took it for a test drive and he really liked it. We talked it over, and determined the only way we could afford it is if we sold his Monte Carlo. He had previously researched its value and knew it was worth around the amount as the Suburban. So, I suggested he go to Carmax and get the car appraised. I remembered that they'd buy a car, no questions asked; it seemed like the easiest and quickest way to get money in hand. They offered Frank a fair price; he thought it over, and he went back the following day and sold them the Monte. They cut the check right there and then, it was painless and we feel like they did us a huge favor by not having to deal with the hassles of private sale.

He deposited the check, but our bank placed a hold on the funds. We’ve been none to happy with our bank lately; this was just the topper, but that’s a story for another day. The delay of the funds got Frank thinking more about what he wanted. While, the Suburban is an excellent deal and has what we need, it lacks what he wants. He’s opted to keep looking. Yesterday, he was a bit frustrated because what he wants just doesn’t seem to be for sale. I told him to be patient. He has the help of nearby dealers, plus, my mom is on the look out in Pahrump and his friend has the Phoenix area covered. I’m sure he’ll find his unicorn, too.

Amazing Banana Bread

From baking/cooking

Well, I don't think it's that good, but what can you do? The name was coined by weightwatchers, not by me. If I were to name the recipe, I'd call it Pretty Darn Tasty Banana Muffins. I turned the bread into muffins, and only had one egg on had so I used the yolk, instead of two egg whites - my version was moist and flavorful. I froze half and defrosted them yesterday. I had a muffin for breakfast this morning, it still tasted good. Although, the tops of the muffins were sticky or kinda gummy. I'll have to find a better way to store them.

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light butter softened
1 2/3 cup mashed riped bananas (about 3)
1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 cup light sour cream
2 large egg whites
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350. Combine sugar and light butter and mix until creamy. Add banana, milk, sour cream, egg whites and mix well. In a seperate bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt. Then, mix dry ingredients into creamed banana mixture. Lightly spray a loaf pan. Pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hr, 10 min. Test for doneness with wooden toothpick - should come out clean. Cool for 10 min and remove from pan.

Number of Servings: 16
3 WW points: 139 calories, 1.8g fat, 1.1g fiber