Vegas Baby!

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Vegas Baby!
2009

On 10-21-09, the girls picked me up.
After the mandatory trip photo with sign,
we headed to the airport in Sacramento.

It happened to be Mary's birthday.
After stopping in Corning to get a card and
gift from her sister, her twin brother, Joseph,
and his wife met us with celebratory cupcakes.

Arriving in Las Vegas!
(Viv & Patty)

A stretch limo picks up passengers
at the airport. There was not enough
trunk space so they had to make do.

We took a shuttle bus and soon
arrived at our hotel, the Plazzao.

It was a huge, lovely ornate place.
Decorated beautifully for the fall season.

Viv, Patty (modeling clothes left in
our room) and Mary.

We had a suite on the 19th floor.

Just arrived and ready to settle in.

Views from our room.

We registered and collected our materials.
Then we signed up for next year's AARP
Convention.

Orlando will be the site of the next
AARP Convention!

Scenes in the casino.

Our first dinner was at P.F. Chang's
in Planet Hollywood.

Some of the condiments.

We shared the dishes.
Patty taking her share.

My plate!

After dinner we walked the strip
and took in the sights.

The Bellagio's water show. The water
moved to the music of The Pink Panther.

Photos from inside Ceasar's Hotel
and Casino.

Day 2...
We grabbed some quick breakfast
and hurried to the opening session.
Patty carried her banana on her shoulder.

It was a long line as there were 9,000+ participants.

Keynote speakers: John Amos, George
Takei, Garry Marshall and his sister,Penny
Marshal spoke about The Golden Age of Television.

Garry Marshall and sister, Penny Marshall.

George Takei (of Star Trek)

John Amos, actor.

Some of us went on to other sessions, some
went to the exhibit hall, and some took a nap.
Then we joined together for dinner at
Wolfgang Puck's POSTRIO for dinner.
There we had a wonderful dinner before
the evening concert.

The evening concert was Gloria Estefan.

She was amazing and we gathered at
the stage edge to dance.

At the end, she invited Perez Hilton &
his mother (on the right) up on stage
to dance with her dancers.

Gloria was very friendly and shook
hands with the crowd. Viv, even got
a handshake.


Day 3...
We chose our own sessions to attend.
Viv and Mary got up early and went to
exercise with Martina Navratilova.
Although, I've been on Facebook for
over a year, I attended Facebook 101,
to see if there was something new to
learn. It was a huge class, so obviously,
the AARP crowd is now on Facebook,
much to the horror of our children.

We joined together later, to hear
travel reporter, Peter Greenberg speak.
He was very informative and an
excellent speaker.

Later, in the exhibit hall, Patty found
an inflatible cow at the Vermont,
Cabot cheese counter. She talked
them into giving her one of the cows.

Music instrument exhibit, got the crowd
involved is making music. Very fun!

More to see on way to dinner
at the Venetian.

While getting ready for dinner,
Viv and Mary told a funny story that
had us all in stitches!

Another wonderful dinner, this one
at Table 10, an Emeril restaurant.

After dinner we attended
The Blue Man Group Show.

It was a very funny and interesting show.

We had to wear plastic ponchos, as
we were in the second row.

The whole time we were afraid of what
would be coming towards us.

No cameras allowed so the above
were some photos of a preview of
the show.

After the show.

Next day we decided to get outside again,
and view more of the strip.

At Treasure Island

Buildings in the front are part of the
old Vegas.

It is ok to walk around town with
alcoholic drinks.

You don't find these in Redding.

Fun statue.

A real person statue.

Buying tickets for the monorail ride.

Dancing with the Stars performers.
Professional Anna and actor, Steve
Guttenberg.

Professional dancer, Jonathan, and
actress, Jane Seymour.

The closing session was Al Roker.
He spoke on the power of family
in a comedic way. Very enjoyable.

The final concert was by singer, Faith Hill.
Very fun, great singer, wide range of genres.

And finally...

Can't wait for the AARP Convention of 2010!

Link: http://www.aarp.org/aarp/events/Life_at_50_Las_Vegas/

Wine Tasting and Rose Show

Wine Tasting and Rose Show 2009

Portland in Autumn

Portland in Autumn

Recently, my nephew Peter need to go to Portland for a non-profit job fair. He invited me to go along since my daughter lives there. He would see her new home andwe would stay with her. Thus, began our "wild" road trip! We happened to leave Redding on the worst storm day of the season! We had to drive on windy, windy (two different words), rainy roads. The huge trucks were hard to pass. So often I got stuck rightin their spray with a hard rain coming down and sharp curves coming often. I believe that Peter regretted that he let me drive that leg. He finally took over in Ashland.
That evening Peter met up with his friend, Rob (Yuba) and we all got together for dinner.
We ate at the Rogue a popular Portland place.

'Yuba' and Peter

Me and Alison

Next day, Alison went to school and Peter went to his non-profit job fair. I hung out and later, Peter and I met up for lunch. We got picked up groceries and Peter cooked an amazing dinner. Afterwards, we went to one of Alison's favorite bars. Her friend Clara joined us, as she
herself has spent time in non-profit.

Alison, Me, & Clara

Alison, Peter, & Clara

Peter being goofy

Female DJ

After a few...Peter and me

There is a famous food cart in Portland that has been written about in the NY Times. It is very popular and different. They prepare their potato fries in a different way and serve them with gravy and special chunks of cheese. MMMMM....good!

Alison at the cart

Peter at the cart

Alison and Clara eating the fries

Peter dips into the amazing fries

Next day we headed to a special neighborhood where Beverly Cleary lived and wrote the Ramona Books Series. We saw the school named after her and we visited a park where
there are statues of Ramona, Henry and Ribsy (the dog), characters in her books.

Statue of Ramona


Statue of Henry and Peter

The neighborhood surrounding the park was so fun to walk through and capture photos of the Autumn season.

Peter and Alison in the park

Most had their front porches decorated for the season.

This guy was watching out the window.



A metal sculpture.

Pumpkin patch in the front yard.

Before

Soon to be

Another decorated porch

Alison found a lovely leaf

Peter and Alison walking through the park.

Another delicious meal. Unique sandwiches are made and eaten here!

Great food...Alison could not wait!

On our way back, we stopped in Eugene and had lunch with Heidi (Peter's ex and my
friend). She took us to McMinnemins, a very cool restaurant on the river. Fun visit.

thought of the day: This is me pretending to be normal.

photo hunt: Words

Weekly Theme: Words

The English language is so confusing.

photo hunt: Twisted

WEEKLY THEME:
TWISTED

Twisted cables on the Brooklyn Bridge.
(click on photo to enlarge)

Fun Weekend

FUN Weekend

The weekend started with Happy Hour
at Cheesecakes Unlimited...for the Sept.
birthdays and one postponed July gal.

Mary, Viv, and Patty

Happy Birthday Viv!

Sally, Claudia, and Debbie

Same to you, Sally and Debbie.

Patty and Pat

Following that, Patty and I went to dinner
with our friend Pat. We ate on the patio of C.R. Gibbs.
Good salads, drinks and my friends,
Allison and Victor were playing music there.

Pat and Claudia

Allison Scull and Victor Martin

Baby Ysabel and mom, Brandy

Next day was a "grandma shower" for my
friend, Joey's first grandbaby.

Other Grandma, Cheryl

Brandy, Joey, and Leslie

Lots of fun gifts!

Mary and Lousie

That evening Patty and I attended
the Redding Beer and Wine Festival
in downtown Redding.

Patty sample the grapes.

From grapes to wine!

Following the festival we attended
a wine stomping contest at Vintner's.
Of course, while there, we had to sample
the wonderful Pear Reisling.

One of the barrels of grapes to be stomped.

The winning team's stomper,
his wife (unseen) keeps the
juice flowing towards the spout
where she collects it in a bottle.

thought of the day:
Well, you can definitely tell this weekend...was nothing to WHINE about!

Photo Hunt ~ Weekly Theme: Electric

Weekly Theme: Electric


Some lovely chandeliers in the Rockerfeller Center
in New York City. They obviously use a lot of electricity.