VEGAS!

I am trying to watch the presidential debate while writing, but it is difficult to pay attention, and also not throw things at the T.V. Anyway, here's what I did this past weekend!

I had casually mentioned that the next girl's weekend could be in Las Vegas back in August, when Andrea (my sister in-law) immediately jumped into action! She arranged the nicest weekend for us girls (Andrea, me, Sunny-step sister in-law, Cherie-my mom, and Denise-Andrea's mom). Through Stewart (Andrea's dad) she was able to procure a five star, five diamond hotel room at the Wynn Hotel. They hooked us up with free tickets to La Reve (circ-du-soliet like show), free meals, and VIP status! It was simply unbelievable. We can never go to Vegas again after this star treatment.

Well, I arrived Saturday morning and waited about 2 hours at the airport for Sunny and mom to get there. We got a taxi cab (my first ride with a female driver!) and headed to the hotel. We met Andrea and Denise there and got right to the check-in to recieve our VIP room keys. We sat down to eat lunch at the hotel's deli (delicious). Then, it was off to shop and see the strip. We got new sunglasses and headed down the strip to look through shops.

At one store, we happened upon a famous celebrity signing autographs. (sorry I can't say who or it will spoil someone's surprise) We shopped until we almost dropped. Back to the hotel and get a drink by the pool. Sunny and I were dying for a $1 margarita, so we headed back down the strip for one, but decided on two each. (hardly any alcohol though) We got ready for dinner and went down to join Andrea and Denise. I wore a new dress thanks to my generous mother!

We ate a great dinner at an Asian restaurant at the hotel and I nipped a head cold/sinus problem in the bud with my famous red wine cure. It worked like a charm and my nose dried up. Mom even noticed the difference in the puffiness of my nose. (for more information about this wonderful cure, just email me) Then, it was off to La Reve. How do I begin about this??? If you have seen a circ-du-soliet show before, this blew that "out of the water." It was a show using water, swimming, diving, acrobatics from the ceiling, dancing (in and out of water), and crazy cool costumes. I guess the best description is to say it is just like a Clive Barker book come to life. The people in it were so strong and agile it was beyond imagination. Let's just say that it was the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life. (and it was free!)

I was very tired/getting run down, so Sunny, mom and I went back to our room to go to bed. The hotel had turned down our beds with Belgian chocolate, put on classical music with a scenic background on the TV, turned the lights down, closed the drapes, put out slippers, and left us to slumber in perfect beds.

Sunday-we got up and ate breakfast (again free!) then it was off to go shopping again. We also went to see an art exhibit in Modernism at another hotel. I took lots of pictures of our hotel and also the strip. Not after too long, Sunny and I were jealous of people walking by with huge margaritas. So, in Paris we got gigantic Eiffel Tower shaped margaritas. Don't worry, there was virtually no liquor in them. I know this because both Sunny and I sucked them down pretty quickly and were able to walk/talk/think just fine. No problem what so ever.

We wanted to put in time at the hotel pool (this time in suits) so we headed there and only saw about 5 minutes of sun before the clouds took over and the sun went behind a building. However, the pool was heated, so we swam for a long while, and then went to the hot tub to really warm up.

Showers and dressing (black and white were aparently on the menu) before the best steak I have literally ever eaten in my life. I literally think if I died after that meal, it would be ok by me. The steak was melting in my mouth it was so perfectly rare and juicy, the egg plant was to die for, and the desert was rich and chocolately. I was in heaven when I added a glass of Pierre Joiet Champaign (which I have never had) and then a big deep dark Cabernet Sauvignon. :)

Then, off to the Orleans (Joshy would call it "the people's casino"). There was a huge difference here. It was off the strip, known for hosting the most locals, and was smoky, old, and very cool. We didn't feel poor there and felt that we could hang there and soak up the local culture. The cab driver insisted the slots were looser there too. We were there to see Dana Carvey (mom had found tickets!) and boy were we in for a treat. He was soooooooo funny. He blended current events while weaving in his old voices (church lady, bush, garth). His jokes kept us laughing the whole night. "Did you hear about the man with five penises? His pants fit like a glove." Now imagine that joke sung to an electric guitar while impersonating Bob Dylan. So funny!

Since the night was still somewhat young, we headed to Paris to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower to watch the Belagio's water show from above. Wow was that cool. Then, it was time to make our way back to the hotel. Whew.

Monday-we decided to take it easy on our last day. We leasurely got up and got breakfast near the pool and then sat by the pool for hours! Glorious sunshine. Andrea joined us for a while, then was the first to leave the pool. (Denise had actually left before breakfast even!) Sunny, mom and I lounged for a little while longer, went up and packed, and tried to hit the Beliagio one more time for the water show. But....stupid big city blocks and hot sun! We didn't get very far before we realized we would never make it in time, so we gave up and got some pizza and then headed to the airport.

sigh. I miss Vegas. I miss the star treatment. I miss all the girls. sigh....

Las Vegas

Wine tasting at Montinore's winery!

Molly and I are members of 3 different wine clubs: Archery Summit (super high-end pinot noir), Phelp's Creek (inexpensive family-run wines near Hood River, OR near where we ski and hike) and Montinore (organic, biodynamc inexpensive wines that are wonderful, and close to our home in Hillsboro).

This weekend we were invited to a members-only event to pick up our October shipment. They were pouring all of their old favorites, including their Mueller, Riesling, Gewurztraminer (sp?), Pinot Gris, and of course their Pinot Noir (Pearson, Graham's block 7 and Reserve). In addition they have released some new wines that are also very tasty. One is Borealis (sp?) which is a blend of their whites. The other is a very nice Merlot for $19... obviously they grow the grapes elsewhere. The other wine in the shipment was a new, single barrel pinot. This is one-of a kind, and I think they were only able to produce 200+ bottles, so each member got a bottle.. and that's it. It's a 2007, so it won't be ready to drink until AT LEAST 2010... and probably should hold on until 2011. I hope I don't like it too much, because that's all there ever will be!

At the event they had a really nice selection of food.. including one that is a brownie with a brownie layer, with a pumpkin bread layer, followed by another brownie layer, then another pumpkin bread layer... Oh my god was it good.

It was just Lindsey and I there, because Josh Yoder was staying at home with his family in from out out town and Molly is in Vegas this weekend with her Mom, sister in law and step-sister. After sampling pretty much all of their wine, we decided to try the port and the pinot noir chocolate sauce... neither of which we had tried previously. The port was amazing... its made from 100% pinot noir, and not terribly sweet, but it is nice and strong the way you want a port to be. Probably the best port I've ever had. Will definately buy a bottle there someday. The chocolate sauce was also very good. I wanted to lick clean the plastic cup it was served it.

All in all, a very fun little event!

I don't want "Joe Six-Pack" running our Country

I guess this isn't as obvious as I had previously thought. I've met "Joe Six-Pack"... and you know what? I don't want that guy running our country. I want somebody SO much more intelligent than "Joe Six-Pack". I am absolutely no slouch when it comes to intelligence, but I can assure you, I want somebody MUCH MORE INTELLIGENT THAN ME running our country.

Do you think that the average person in America knows enough about the idiosyncrasies of trade sanctions, federal reserve lending and international warfare? I know for a fact that I don't. And I guarantee that "Joe Six-Pack" doesn't either.

The last thing that I want to say about this topic is the following: In 2000, and 2004 we voted a president into office because a lot of "Joe Six-Pack"s thought it would be great to have a guy in office that they could see themselves drinking a beer with. How well did that work out? I think every "Joe Six-Pack" that voted for Bush for this reason should punch themselves in the face repeatedly until until they realize that they are too dumb to vote. Now if you voted for Bush for any other reason... like, for instance, based upon republican principals... well, I feel sorry for you because you got duped.

Debates, workouts, trips... and other stuff

Well, just wanted to write a quick post to let everyone know what we're up to!

The last week has been relatively uneventful. We didn't do any hiking, so that left our weekend pretty free (for once). It was nice. We cleaned up the house and rearranged some furniture.

We've been working out quite a bit, trying to get in shape for the Holidays, so January 2nd doesn't come on like a complete nightmare, as it tends to. I've managed to lose a little more weight, so I'm down to 210 lbs, and once I reach 205, that will officially be my original goal that I set last April. It's taking quite a bit of time... but I'm living a life, and not a program, so any results I get are awesome. The last couple of weeks (since the Mt. St. Helens hike) have really been very productive for me, so I think I may have gotten over the latest "plateau" and my body is ready to drop some more lbs.

We're planning some trips! Well, most are already planned! This coming weekend is Molly's trip to Las Vegas with "the girls". That should be exciting for them. They're staying in NICE hotel which they got "comped". Yeah Andrea!

The week after that is Molly's conference in Seattle. I'm going with since she doesn't have to share a room. I'll work in the Hotel during the day, and go out and play in the evening. Should be pretty fun. Looking forward to Archie McPhee. We'll get back on Saturday from that. Then...

I'll be heading to Kansas City, October 12th. Chad offered the use of his place while I'm in town, so I'm going to take him up on his offer. Thanks Chad! I'm not sure how many people I'll get an opportunity to visit with. I have a Conference in Omaha on Thursday, so we'll leave Wednesday at 5pm. I'll be back on Friday evening (8pm probably) and head back to Portland on Sunday.

After that we're pretty well situated for awhile. We're planning another Halloween "cork-dorks" (obviously not the same without the actual cork-dorks), but with some of Molly's school friends. We'll basically do the format the same, everyone brings a bottle of columbia crest of different flavor, and we'll drink from the black glasses and guess which wine it is. It was fun last time, so we're looking forward to it again.

November will be pretty relaxed. Lindsey and Josh are hosting the dinner at their place. Their friend, Heather, may come down for the weekend to visit the Wineries. Should be pretty fun!

After that? Christmas... we're still making plans for Christmas. I want to come into KC to visit my Grandma, and we have almost firm obligations to KC in South Carolina... but we're looking at costs now that are prohibitavily expensive. We may fly into KC before christmas, rent a car and drive to South Carolina Christmas day... stay for 3-4 days, then drive back, fly out of KC back to PDX hopefully in time for New Years... but who knows. Thats a lot of driving, flying, traveling, and money is getting tighter all the time.

Way out? Vacation to Machu Pichu late March, Canada in July.