Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah

We hit the road Sunday at 7 o'clock we hoped to beat traffic leaving Las Vegas and we did for the most part, it was just a bit slow and go until Barstow. We feared how long of a ride it might be when Nicky asked, "Are we at Disneyland, yet?" We were only 45 minutes in, we hadn't even left Nevada yet. Fortunately, he only asked a few more times and we made fairly good time; about 4 hours.

I reserved discounted park hopper tickets from frontofthelinetickets.com. We had to pick them up at a gas station a few minutes from the park. It seemed a little shady, but our friends bought tickets thru them the week before. We paid $70 cash for each ticket, which saved us $31 per ticket. The only catch is that we had to return the passes in a drop box before morning. It worked out well and I'd definitely use them again.

Rather than pay a fortune for a bite in Disney we ordered nachos and taquitos from the Mexican restaurant attached to the gas station. Nicky refused to eat and was busy pouting because he wanted a blue balloon and got a pink one from the gumball machine. He's usually very well behaved and this whiney pouting bit was totally out of the norm. I was a little afraid of what the rest of the day might be like, but he pulled a 180 shortly after getting back into the car. Out of nowhere he says, "I hope the hotel has soft beds." And that was that, he was his usual self afterwards.

We had to wait in line to park, about 10 minutes and $15 later we found a spot. We walked to the tram and waited for our turn to be taken to the parks. Not only was it Sunday, but it was also Mother's Day, I knew the crowds would be ridiculous. I figured California Adventure would be less crowded and better to do first, by the time we wrapped it up there crowds would be thinning at Disney... Tired kids, everyone hungry for dinner and all that. We stuck to my plan and it worked out well.



We caught the noon parade with Monsters, Inc. characters watched that for a bit and then went on our first ride, Tower of Terror.



The wait was about 35 minutes; the line moved pretty well. Nicky was a little scared once we got inside the basement, but he handled it better than you'd expect from a 4 year old. We took our seats in the elevator and 3...2...1 we were sent on a heck of a ride. It was like an enclosed Big Shot, you shoot up and free fall a few times. We had a blast. Nicky was FREAKED out. It was hilarious. We've never seen him frightened before. We asked, if he wanted to go again? "No!"

We went on to Bug's Land and rode a couple kiddie rides. The lines were short so that was nice.







We walked the park a bit and made it to the back end. Nicky wanted to ride the big roller coaster, but he was a few inches too short to ride. I spotted Toy Story Mania, I heard it was a can't miss. The sign said it was a 45 minute wait, it looked like it'd be longer. About 10 minutes in, a nice man offered us a fast pass ticket. He worked for the park and was there celebrating with his family. Before we knew it, we were boarded. The ride is 3D and interactive. You play carnival games for points. It was a lot of fun for all of us.





Next, we rode the giant Mickey wheel. We rode in a swinging cart, it was fun and we got to look out over the whole park. I got really chilly up there, though.



After that, we went back to Toy Story. Nicky and Frank, both, really wanted to do it again. They never took our fast pass so we used it again. It worked out fabulously. Frank and Nicky were a team this time, he wanted the high score of the hour and he got it. Amy beat me, but I had better accuracy.





When we were leaving, Nicky said, "alright, guys, we can do the other ride again." Which one? "The up and down one." Tower of Terror? "Yeah!"

So, we went back and rode Tower of Terror again. He was a little scared, he held mine and Amy's hand for dear life, but he had fun. We all did.

We wrapped it up at California Adventure and walked over to Disneyland. Goofy was right out front welcoming the kids. This made Nicky's day, we had only seen Monsters Inc and Chip N Dale so far.



I took a map at the gates, but it was for California Adventure - Go figure. We hopped on the train that goes around the park to get our bearings. We stopped at Tommorrow Land to ride Space Mountain. This was our longest wait, the sign said 45 minutes but it was closer to an hour. Nicky rode with Frank for his first real roller coaster ride. He LOVED it. We did not. Our necks were killing us. I remember Disney World's space mountain being better. You sat tandem and there were more corkscrews with that one. Disneyland's has you sit side-by-side upright. It was killer on your neck. Nicky wanted to ride it again, but we didn't.

We were pretty hungry and we had heard so much about Thunder BBQ so we sought that out, only to be turned away because we didn't have reservations. We ended up nearby at the hamburger haus or something similar. We got cheeseburgers and Nicky got Mac N Cheese. It was terrible. Hard to believe that slop was $40. Nicky started dozing at the table. I thought we might have been done. But we decided to press on and see what we could do. We went on Snow White's ride and Nicky perked right up. We went on Peter Pan next. Then we were going to check out the firework show, but the crowds were insane 45 minutes beforehand everyone was already camped out.



We took advantage of the empty park and rode rides with extremely short to non-existant lines. Nicky loved the Haunted Mansion so much we did it twice. We also rode Winnie the Pooh and Pirates of the Caribbean.

We all got ears, Nicky got Mickey, Frank got Jack Skellington and Amy and I got minnie.





We were trying to make it back to Tommorrow Land to ride Nemo but we never made it. The train stopped running and our feet pooped out before we made it. Nicky rode the space ships last. The park was closing in 30 minutes so we headed back to the car. On the tram ride back, Nicky melted the hearts of all the riders when he yelled out "I love you, and I'll miss you Mickey". I've never heard so many aww's in unison.

12 hours at the theme parks wore Nicky out. He was asleep in minutes. We dropped off the tickets and checked into our hotel, Ayres. I was exhausted having been up since 5:30 so I stayed with Nicky, while Amy and Frank went to grab a beer at JT Schmidt's next door. They returned minutes later because the restaurant had long been closed. We all turned in, awaiting the fun that was ahead.

Sayonara

We said so long to California late last night. We had a great time, more details and photos to come. I wanted to share a bit about the weekend before we left for fun in the California sun.

Friday, Frank and I went Siena Deli. There wasn't a Boar's Head sign in sight. We had an eggplant parm and sicilian sandwich. Both hit the spot!

Afterwards, my mom watched Nicky so Frank, Amy and I could go to Sahara. We've all spent a lot of time there and we wanted to say our good-byes before it closes this weekend. When we walked thru the doors for one final time all the memories there came flooding back. Sadly, we could hardly recognize the place. Much of the casino was dark, including the poker room and back pit where $1 BJ had been offered. It was only the main casino that was open for business. Table limits were $5, so we passed. We played a couple slots and lost. We also tried our luck at roulette. We lost there, too. We took one last look around and thanked the 'ole girl for the memories and then we left for luckier pastures.

Somehow, we ended up at The Palms. This was wildly out of the norm for Frank and I, but my sister is a HUGE fan of Playboy so we popped in. They ended up playing poker, and I played some goofy Goose Chase slot that reminded me of my mom. Shockingly, it was extremely generous and bonuses were hitting left and right. I cashed out $130 ahead. Then, I gave video poker a whirl. I like to play those full pay Double Bonus machines by the front door, even though, I rarely win. But Friday was my lucky night I hit 4-of-a-kind. I made another $50. Meanwhile, Amy and Frank were holding their own playing poker. They ended up cashing out ahead. It was a fun night, and likely one of the few left under Maloof's reign. It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for The Palms and the site of the Sahara.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Mickey Mouse!

Mickey Mouse!



Yep, this weekend we're off to see the mouse and his friends. It's my first time to Disneyland, I've been to Disney World twice. I wasn't much of a fan, but I'm looking forward to experiencing the park through a child's eyes. Nicky had no idea what Disneyland was when we mentioned it to him, but he's gotten more excited as time has grown near. He might not know much about Mickey & friends, but he loves Cars and Toy Story. I'm sure he's gonna have a blast.

Monday and Tuesday we'll catch White Sox games. I had hoped to hit the beach, but the weather might be too chilly. California's highs (mid-60) are lower than our lows, it'll be 96 today and tomorrow. That cool air is going to be a shock to the system when we leave the desert on Sunday. Maybe we'll show Amy Los Angeles, instead?

Lastly, I leave you with more details about our Shark Reef adventures last weekend, Vegas Values: Fin-tastic!

My Beef with Delis

Why do most deli's "proudly" serve Boar's Head? I don't understand it. I get that it's better than prepackaged Oscar Meyer or Carl Budding... it's no wonder that I didn't enjoy deli sandwiches until I was old enough to shop for myself. Those brands were all I knew.

Then, I learned of deli counters with freshly sliced cold cuts. I lived off of generic meats for a long time. Fast forward to life in Las Vegas, my grocers of choice sold Boar's Head, it touted as a premium deli meat. I was not a fan from the first bite and I'm still not one today. It's only the Turkey Pastrami that I'll buy on occasion. I find their meat bland or overly-salted. Few fall in the middle.

I love a good Italian. I've had fantastic sandwiches in San Diego and San Francisco, but I've struck out so many times, here, at home. The best around is at Siena Deli. It's good, but I can't help but think there must be better. The trouble is that a majority of delis make their sandwiches with Boar's Head meats and cheeses. Why would I go out of my way for sandwich I could make myself at home? It really boggles my mind.

When we went to New York I was so stoked for heros with imported meats, but we found the majority of the Italian delis there carried Boar's Head too. We were so disappointed. It wasn't until this week that I learned that Boar's Head started in New York City. Here I thought I was going to escape Boar's Head and I went directly to its home. Nice. I've been itching for a good sandwich since we've been back. This week, Frank and I each scoped out a deli. He went to Cugino's and I went to LaDuca's. Both proudly serve Boar's Head. Fantastic. Just fantastic.

He tried the Italian. How was it? "Meh," he said.

When I went to LaDuca's I wanted more than a "meh" experience so I went with an eggplant parm sandwich instead.



It was a sloppy mess by the time I got it back to my desk to eat. The bread was fine, but the eggplant had that awful greasy taste I hate. It was a bummer. I had a "meh" sandwich after all.

I see a trip to Siena Deli in my future.

Thicker Skin

Yelp is a great resource when scouring the best places to eat. It has served me well in our travels, even if it did lead us astray a few times in New York City. I always take the time to give back, and share my opinions based on my own experience in hopes to help someone else out.

I reviewed all the places we ate in NYC just like I do after any trip. I apparently ruffled some feathers with one review in particular, the cupcakes at Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery. Shortly after posting my thoughts I received a comment from the owner.

If I had my own place of business I'd be interested in what my customers had to say, Yelp can be a great resource for them, too. Before I get too far ahead, let me share what was said, my review was very similar to what I shared here...

"After Katz's Deli, we left a little room for dessert so we sought out Sugar Sweet Sunshine bakery, which came highly recommended for cupcakes. We ordered two: Sexy red velvet and pistachio. Both had "the moose" aka satin buttercream, which seemed to be their signature icing.

They weren't the most attractive cupcakes, but I don't mind as long as they taste yummy. We each dug in and gave each other the same look. "Ick." These were among the worst cupcakes we ever tried. The cake was dry. The icing was bland only leaving a strange artificial taste. It was very odd, I've never considered myself a great baker, but I can make a better cupcake. I swear this place is highly rated because it's fairly cheap, only $1.75 per cupcake."

The response from the owner follows:

"Kellee, what a shame you & your friend didn't enjoy your cupcakes. Sure, we are more shabby chic in the looks department, about taste and trying to give our customers a price that is fair. Perhaps after glutting it out @ Katz's deli you didn't leave room to taste much else. That being said, that if you think you can make a better cupcake & run a successful business then step up to the plate. Let us all who do this for a living see what you got. I guess our #1 Zagat rating and the over 1100 reviews really do lie. What does the majority know right?"

I'd expect someone with a business to have thicker skin. Plus, if someone was dissatisfied I'd address those concerns. I felt this response was immature and unprofessional, but to each their own. I will say that popularity means zilch, McDonald's is widely popular but that does not mean it is any good. There are plenty of places the please the masses on Yelp or Zagat, but that never means they are the best of anything. Popularity attracts attention, Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery had mine, and then, they lost it.

Dun Dun... Dun Dun

My sister and I shopped a lot this weekend. Like most moms, Amy's focus has been on Nicky... his needs, his wants... Whatever she might need or want always takes the back seat. The time had come for her to spruce up her wardrobe with some staple pieces that will be needed for interviews and such. Once she heads back home, she'll be faced with the challenge of being a single working parent. So, I encouraged her to prepare for this next step. We share similar fit issues so it was no easy task or joyful experience, but we got the job done.

As a reward for good behavior we went to the Shark Reef for some fun. And fun was certainly had.























Nicky's favorite part? "Touching the Stingray with one finger!"

Wearin' Crankypants

I must forewarn you, I'm cranky today. I wish someone would make me take a nap. Children don't understand how sweet napping actually is. Hell, I'd take a time out about now, but I digress.

Did you know Las Vegas has had the windiest April on record? Well, it's true. And I'm over it. I desperately want the winds to go away. I'd like to breathe again. Our daily temperatures have been all over, too. Ten degree swings each day seem to be the new norm. I keep telling myself "It's better than snow."

The reality of Amy and Nicky leaving soon is starting to settle in. This is our last weekend together, here, at home. Next weekend, we're off to California. We're seeing the White Sox in Anaheim, and we're taking Nicky to Disneyland. He has no idea what to expect. The rest of us have been to Disney World so we have some idea, but we're not really sure how the two parks differ. Soon, we'll know.

At any rate, I'm ready for this week day to be over. I'd like to get the weekend started. 5 hours to go. I can do it. I can do it.

Lastly, I leave you with some thoughts on our dinner Tuesday night Vegas Values: Mundo.

It's over, at last!

The wedding happened, can we move on now? Surely there's been real news in recent weeks besides this wedding (Oh! and Obama's birth certificate malarkey). Although, I wouldn't know it. All I've seen is coverage of the Royal Wedding (and Trump's snarkiness). The dress. The flowers. The hats. None of interests me. I might just be the only girl in the world that didn't get sucked into the hoopla. At 3am this morning I was fast asleep. I was certainly not watching Kate and Will. Although, I do hope the couple can enjoy some time together in peace before they are hounded over the next phase... conception of the future heir.

Now, how do we make Trump go away?

Camera Bags

Last month I told you about my new camera gear and how I was torn between a Kelly Moore purse and Crumpler bag. I ordered from Kelly Moore first. I thought I'd prefer a style that I could use as an everyday purse. It shipped timely, about a week after ordering I received it on my birthday.







It was narrow like I had wanted, but the purse was far too bulky for my liking. It's size on my frame was terribly awkward. Frank immediately hated it. He said it made me instantly gain 50 lbs. That settled it. It was going back. I returned it and got my money back.

I then purchased the 5MDH Crumpler Bag. It's not as stylish, but it is practical, waterproof and guaranteed for life. It was also far more comfortable to carry. It was significantly smaller, but I can fit even more into it that I was able to do with the Kelly Moore bag.







I carried my Crumpler bag with me all over New York. I stashed both my cameras, my 50-200mm lens, umbrella, phone, wallet, hand sanitizer and chapstick inside. It all fit with ease. The only trouble was it was heavy and after long days of riding the subway and walking all over the city it made my shoulder sore and tired. I'd switch from left to right and tried to plan what I'd need each day to lighten the load. It helped tremendously. I put it to the test and I'm happy with the 5MDH purchase. It'll be a staple in my travels.

Back to Being Us

Last night, Frank and I got back into the swing of things. We got out to see what we can discover. We kicked off the night with dinner at Mundo, details to follow on Friday.



Then, we went over to the new arcade bar, Insert Coin(s). It's a neat place. It reminds me of the Pinball Hall of Fame only with a bar and no pinball. You can get bottle service and reserve a coach to play PS3/X360, there is a dj and dance floor and a bunch of old school arcade games. Frank had fun running around playing old favorites. This place is a gamers' paradise. Well, at least, for those gamers that leave the house.



Next, we walked over to the Western. Frank's been inside before, but it was my first visit. It's always had this reputation of the sleazy place with questionable clientele. It's either been spruced up or it was never that bad in the first place. It's a little dank, sure. It actually reminded me of classrooms I had when I was in grade school... wood paneling, florescent lights... all that was missing was the linoleum. Seriously, though, it had the same vibe Plaza had about 8 years ago. It's rough around the edges but friendly and accomodating. They had dollar craps and $2 blackjack. Frank played both and lost. We also found quarter full pay double bonus. Lost at that, too. I guess some things will never change. All was not lost, however. Frank had a lucky streak on Little Green Men - gosh, I miss those old 9 line 45 coin max bet games - and won $80. No sense in pressing our luck so we left.



We spotted a taco truck across from the Western. We ordered two tacos for curiousity's sake. The were decent and pretty cheap, just $1.50 each.



I cannot tell you how great it was just to get out and explore our city. I missed it.

Gah! Wind.

I'm over these fierce winds. I haven't been able to breath in a week and I've had a sore throat for weeks now. The sore throat started in NYC, but it's never gotten better. My allergies are running amuck. My head is pounding and my sinuses are swollen. I'm more symtomatic than I've been in ages and it's my own fault. I got lazy about remembering my allergy shots and now I'm paying the price. Note to self: Don't ever do this to yourself again, dumbshit.

I need the winds to stop so we can toss the solar cover on the pool. The high winds cause our trees and flowers make a mess of things. So, we have to wait intil the winds die down before we can attempt to heat the pool. Amy and Nicky's time here is running out so Mother Nature's cooperation would be much appreciated.

Hippity Hoppity

What a great weekend! We ran some errands, but also left plenty of time for fun. I bought Nicky a baseball bat and mit on Friday. There was a lot of baseball played this weekend. It turns out he's a pretty good hitter and he already has an arm. Hey, White Sox! This kid can play. Ok, so he's a long way off from the majors, but I can see him really enjoying t-ball or little league.

While playing baseball, Saturday afternoon, I happened to catch the Easter bunny on my street out of the corner of my eye. I pointed her out to Nicky and he bolted down the street to meet her. I didn't know why she was there so I didn't want to keep her, but I didn't see the harm in letting Nicky say hi. She waved us over. They exhanged hugs, she threw him a pitch and he hit it. It was such a great moment. Absolutely priceless. They chatted each other up and then I told him the Easter bunny was very busy, there were eggs to be hidden and baskets to be given to good girls and boys so we had to go. The bunny agreed, they had one last good bye and then we ran back to my house to tell Amy what had happened. She had only went inside for a few minutes, but she totally missed out. No clue why the bunny was there, but I'm so happy I noticed. I'm sure it'll be a lasting memory.

We enjoyed dying eggs and had an Easter egg hunt at mom's house on Sunday. It was hysterical getting Nicky to find the eggs. He was obivious to our blatant hints. He did eventually find all 30 (with some major assistance) which contained a mixture of dollars, coins and candy. He made out well. We had a yummy meal and lots of laughs. Holidays are so much more fun with kids.