VEGAS - DAY 5

Good Morning Everyone,

Life is good! We are lying by the pool sipping Pina Coladas and I am blogging. What can be better than that!! OK guys, no comment.

Yesterday, we took a tour of California. We began at Warner Brother’s Studio and then went onto to: Beverly Hills, Rodeao Drive, Sunset Strip, Stars Walk of Fame and Graumann’s Chinese Theatre, Mulholland Drive and ended at Santa Monica Pier. Although we were not in Cali for a very long time, we saw soooo much. We went by Michael Jackson’s house in Beverly Hills. His mailbox was adorned with many flowers, notes, pics and candles. There was so much security around the property that we could not stop and take pics. Santa Monica Pier was fun. I was so surprised that the Pacific Ocean is so cold. I would have thought it would have been much warmer then the Atlantic.

In Hollywood we saw the Four Seasons Hotel where Pretty Woman was filmed. In Beverly Hills we saw the Hollywood sign, the Greystone Mansion where President Obama had his fundraiser, Richie Rich, Spiderman III, Witches of Eastwick and Ghostbusters (to name a few) was filmed. We saw Cher’s and Elton John’s condo. We saw Hugh Heffner’s home and across the street where he houses his “bunnies”.

I had been soooo nervous about taking this trip for months. I was afraid that we would be mugged and robbed in the Mojave Dessert by our tour driver. I was also not too happy to be going in an SUV with only one other couple. Well, I worried for nothing. Our tour driver Ken (although he LOOKED like a criminal) was amazing, we rode in a 2008 luxury conversion van, which was more comfortable and relaxing than in the tour bus on Sunday and there were six of us and the driver. The Mojave Dessert was wonderful. Nothing but sand, cactus plants, and mountains in the background. Miles and miles of vast open land with a major highway running right through it. I loved seeing the Joshua plants (named by the Mormons for St. Joshua because the plant looks like it arms reach out to the “Promised Land”). It was a very long trip; but, I believe it’s not just the destination but the journey! The 4 ½ hours each way gave me memories that I may never get to have again.

We returned back to our hotel at 7pm. We headed down the strip and did not return to our room until 2:30 AM. We have logged over 75,000 steps so far this week and have drunk over a gallon of water each every day. CRAZY!!

Tonight it is dinner at Mandalay Bay and The Lion King show. After dinner I will try my luck again at the casino (trying to hit it big to send for Emily). I did invest some money yesterday on the money wheel and won a profit of $2. I was so excited I took my money and ran!

Talk to you all soon. Parents, give all our adopted grandchildren kisses and hugs!

Love, Gramma and Pappa