Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Valley of Fire

We took a day to drive just northeast of Vegas to Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park. It is located in the Mojave Desert. The rocks appear to be on fire.








This is Arch Rock. Here is where a native American Fugitive, Mouse, hid away in the 1890's. Mouse's Tank is a natural basin in the rock where water collects after rainfalls, sometimes remaining for months.

While walking we passed a number of prehistoric Indian petroglyphs.









The 1966 movie The Professionals was filmed here at the White Domes.






Truly an amazing place.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Red Rock Canyon

One of the nicest places we went we was a short 13 mile loop just west Vegas.




The area showcases a set of large red sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust.


There are several side roads and parking areas allow access to many of the trails located in the canyon.


I highly recommend going if your ever in Vegas.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Melts in Your Mouth Not in Your Hands

On the Fabulous Vegas strip is the bestest place in the world!
The M&M store.

The kids found the Kyle's car to be very sweet.



Four floors of M&M's and M&M merchandise. I think I died and went to heaven.






We walked out with a nice dent in our pocketbook.




But, don't ask me for any M&M's I'm fresh out.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Fabulous Vegas Strip









When we landed in Vegas we did the very touristy drive down the strip.






Here we are outside of the New York hotel.






This is the Excalibur.




Of course you wouldn't want to miss the fountain show at the Bellagio.



This inside the Bellagio.







Cool bike, I think this was inside the Treasure Island Hotel.



where we saw Cirque Du Soleil's Mystere.







This is at the Monti Crisco.



And finally, we stayed at The Paris.

Adventures to come....

Friday, May 2, 2008

the vampire in me

I have to admit that I find what I'm about to say to be a bit embarrassing. Apparently, I don't mind tell you about my embarrassing obsessions, but I do want to preference this by telling you another story that may explain the reason for my current obsession.
You see, a number of years ago a friend of mine told me about this vampire movie. Honestly, I wasn't much of a vampire person, but I was a very big Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise fan (at the time) so I became mildly interested in what she was telling me. When I found out that the author, Anne Rice, was from just down the road in little ole NOLA I became more interested and decided to read the book, Interview with a Vampire before going to the movie.
I fell in live with the vampire Lestat and Anne Rice's style of writing. The movie, I did not like. I started reading all of Anne Rice's vampire chronicles after that. The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damn, Tale of the Body Thief, The Mummy (a personal favorite) The Vampire Armand, but by the time I got into Blood and Gold I had quite my job as a certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor for dually diagnosed patients at a local psychiatric hospital in lue of staying at home with my two precious children. Needless to say, I started reading Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. That doesn't count the numerous self help books I've read through. I did eventually graduate up to Little House on the Prairie and Hank the Cowdog, but otherwise I haven't read much in the way of adult literature.
That brings us to my embarrassing current obsession. I'd like to shift the blame to my history of only reading children's literature or maybe even to Ann over at Sharp Spiels who first suggested that this series was a good read, but I'm afraid I may have to accept all the responsibility for my lack of quality adult literature. Okay, so here goes, I like Stephenie Meyer's vampire books. There, I said it, I'm not sure if I'm relieved or embarrassed. You see, what happened was that I decided, before we left for Vegas, to get something to read for entertainment instead of all those children's behavioral books. The only book that I could think of when we were at the library was the one Ann had mentioned in her blog so I decide to check out Twilight. I finished it and decide to get New Moon and Eclipse while we were still on vacation. Of course these book are intended for younger audience, but yes, I defiantly enjoyed them. I have since discovered that I'm not the only old woman who likes them. There is actually a site for Twilight Moms. If you're human (or not) and 13 years old (or older) I recommend reading the Twilight series. Book four, Breaking Dawn will be out August 2 and Twilight the movie is due out on December12.




Go here to see the first official trailer.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” mahatma gandhi