tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16929044962560518462024-03-13T18:16:07.426-04:00Sunshine and LemonadeKeys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.comBlogger376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-50601450518672144362012-04-18T13:18:00.001-04:002012-04-18T13:19:17.693-04:00Come find me at my new website!Hi there! It's been a long time. Like a really, really long time.<br />
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There have been a lot of changes here at casa Sunshine and Lemonade. Madalyn is about to graduate from 5th grade. Katie about to graduate from middle school. And we are in our last year of homeschooling her. (I know - that should be a story unto itself)<br />
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And I have rather retired from blogging.<br />
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Or so I thought.<br />
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About a year ago, I began working as a travel agent - in a teeny, tiny agency (my dining room!) that specializes in Disney. And then just a few months ago, I started my own website. And I've been blogging there. It's all Disney all the time. But with lots of mommy comments and family pictures.<br />
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I'd love it if you'd come and visit me there: at <a href="http://www.keystothemagictravel.com/">Keys to the Magic Travel</a> -- even if you aren't planning a trip - and especially if you are. And if you are feeling the love, follow me over there - and you can also find my agency on facebook.<br />
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Looking forward to seeing you on the glorious interwebs!Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-78938344802344448472011-01-07T15:45:00.000-05:002011-01-07T15:45:00.974-05:00The month my blog stopped<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I left ya'll hanging in March. And not just any March. But March of 2010. But it was a blog entry. Which in and of it self seemed to render some speechless. Now we just need to see if I can make it a habit again. I must tell you that it greatly depends on blogger. The more I have to fight with blogger to get my pictures where I want them, the less I want to blog. Do ya'll fight with blogger?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So...April follows March. And we started our April with a visit to the girls' pediatrician. Because I could schedule their check-ups on Spring Break and not miss any school. We have been seeing Dr Weiss since Katie was born and I just love him. Love him so much that I drive 45 minutes across town. In horrid traffic. Because he is that fabulous. (Do your kids sing the "fabulous" song from Phineas and Ferb? I am thinking that it's just me that has to endure it. That and "Squirrels in my pants.")</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCszi9hOgdVNoKXziHFGG3CXA-CXjNEwIYSfdcvh6-Ad8v9NcGfHozsEv-NpHSdAt3I4jDfFNDHBg6ID4S-nzzpZrkeeTQ9VA5j6tAGhQLa4OvnZUsZ3fDUYtP9wB40JpyY7FPrHyjwCLh/s1600/check+up+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCszi9hOgdVNoKXziHFGG3CXA-CXjNEwIYSfdcvh6-Ad8v9NcGfHozsEv-NpHSdAt3I4jDfFNDHBg6ID4S-nzzpZrkeeTQ9VA5j6tAGhQLa4OvnZUsZ3fDUYtP9wB40JpyY7FPrHyjwCLh/s640/check+up+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A visit to Dr Weiss was how we started Spring Break. Michael took the week off and we had a staycation. Naturally, Michael's staycation involved work. We went to Lowe's and bought flowers for him to plant in the yard. My job was to supervise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9__YvOn7sg79Mpdb11KdXEi97szSicM56f80pHlzQHgm1sOzw2Td-XGUU_JWX66PkdAD0Kg_1Q6HFDVFRmdGZyjyQjEn82wFRozPz8Y7hRJN-kOtJ721h72KGig1-huhFnanW3BfczKd/s1600/flowers2+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9__YvOn7sg79Mpdb11KdXEi97szSicM56f80pHlzQHgm1sOzw2Td-XGUU_JWX66PkdAD0Kg_1Q6HFDVFRmdGZyjyQjEn82wFRozPz8Y7hRJN-kOtJ721h72KGig1-huhFnanW3BfczKd/s640/flowers2+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29ZW36FCB0ELVLpegoIRQXSUE4r-rAdytZ_AjTpzgb37_bLyzvrkjnpnVDl9KEeBugEgBXfvpqEXhbjSnMuCwueXSNZ792k6E7WT7N7CZdnUlij5C0XjOIiSueGxeO04_uQHdWZDw9xPD/s1600/flowers+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29ZW36FCB0ELVLpegoIRQXSUE4r-rAdytZ_AjTpzgb37_bLyzvrkjnpnVDl9KEeBugEgBXfvpqEXhbjSnMuCwueXSNZ792k6E7WT7N7CZdnUlij5C0XjOIiSueGxeO04_uQHdWZDw9xPD/s640/flowers+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We couldn't staycation and not play. So, we went out for ice cream. Do ya'll have Bruster's where you live? I like Bruster's. But I just can't eat that much ice cream. And obviously the girls can't either since it drips all over the place. I think I still have sticky spots on my shoes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNpA9IOsFi9dK2u2diW3Ym-cjZxRoKAp4Af4NtmETE5RzyLzGTU5FWJ_DrCQTB-Ypxpy9Qlt_OCwsX0YxPah2Ohm05mh34QhilmXJ6pyLtj4nlIay91kj6_K4JJlB17kDPjYo34tBZBJc/s1600/icecream+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNpA9IOsFi9dK2u2diW3Ym-cjZxRoKAp4Af4NtmETE5RzyLzGTU5FWJ_DrCQTB-Ypxpy9Qlt_OCwsX0YxPah2Ohm05mh34QhilmXJ6pyLtj4nlIay91kj6_K4JJlB17kDPjYo34tBZBJc/s640/icecream+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our big day out on our staycation was to finally venture downtown to the Coke Museum. You start by seeing a very extended Coke commercial. Like a 10 minute commercial. Then you move to different "hubs" in the museum. They have memoriabilia. There is a theatre where you can watch commericals from over the years. There is Coke art. And a bottling plant. But really the highlight was the tasting center where you can taste coke products from all over the world. Some are rather vile. Some are strange. Katie had a "Holy Grail" moment when we found Eldeberry Fanta (what? Your kids don't go around quoting the Holy Grail? And the infamous French accented insult of "your mother is a hamster and your father smells of eldeberry!" Why is it just me?!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5H4FYVWk-1E7fhWBUMfxaq604CcYaUaBTQBun4eE0smXhfLJUAJBaG5sW8u2X0fId25bI_Te2gHv9cJPPe3hs2SHU7hFwtsjohZqtg2XHhZF-BekHSya07nAYuvHVMWQw50A0ixWPthJ/s1600/K+and+M+coke+museum+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5H4FYVWk-1E7fhWBUMfxaq604CcYaUaBTQBun4eE0smXhfLJUAJBaG5sW8u2X0fId25bI_Te2gHv9cJPPe3hs2SHU7hFwtsjohZqtg2XHhZF-BekHSya07nAYuvHVMWQw50A0ixWPthJ/s640/K+and+M+coke+museum+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The girls found the American Idol couch, too. And wondered whose tuchus had also been planted there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje76bIge_lsz0n5ryaOO6vXA0NyqerxIsfcyyPbJj8L4sRudvTozB8wJRmLEEH-5lWi15isqYXLFoKoW9OQjnqWBv6jLeLCsEboJx8N6JTMJrek7BTOiEEw6e_8u1oACz-LKb23a0AScx8/s1600/on+the+Idol+couch+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje76bIge_lsz0n5ryaOO6vXA0NyqerxIsfcyyPbJj8L4sRudvTozB8wJRmLEEH-5lWi15isqYXLFoKoW9OQjnqWBv6jLeLCsEboJx8N6JTMJrek7BTOiEEw6e_8u1oACz-LKb23a0AScx8/s640/on+the+Idol+couch+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And no outing downtown would be complete without a visit to "The Varsity." With a side of onion rings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM6-s57wgKRxibxJW2h_qSZdzVkqzOzhTqW4CDJg-S6tnT9WD0hRFRe8tJr4clkzcKdLRkjZIhipYB4XZfer5wcL2zLERZH09SCEG-JBr2xFkbOe3rXI-J0nLOm9wEjiaGU7nY4MLBhXy/s1600/girls+at+varsity+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM6-s57wgKRxibxJW2h_qSZdzVkqzOzhTqW4CDJg-S6tnT9WD0hRFRe8tJr4clkzcKdLRkjZIhipYB4XZfer5wcL2zLERZH09SCEG-JBr2xFkbOe3rXI-J0nLOm9wEjiaGU7nY4MLBhXy/s640/girls+at+varsity+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our staycation week rounded out with Easter. And somehow this year we managed to not do the world's largest Easter Egg hunt. With our 700something eggs left over from last year. You know we found eggs not that long ago. I wonder how much longer we'll be discovering those nasty candy filled eggs in the yard. I just want to find that last gold dollar. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jNHsjQGxvhGPQp3TRAUuqjNTRyzqKkD8StPODaukoe1yib6NUspDoM39fE0TxfcYGCBBTIq4NBxFUy964idMLNpXZ-vUJPBKwI3e3cD3_pn8uxTPV4NuzdjhK-gh6DPKhyGXEkQQUpHI/s1600/km+easter3+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jNHsjQGxvhGPQp3TRAUuqjNTRyzqKkD8StPODaukoe1yib6NUspDoM39fE0TxfcYGCBBTIq4NBxFUy964idMLNpXZ-vUJPBKwI3e3cD3_pn8uxTPV4NuzdjhK-gh6DPKhyGXEkQQUpHI/s640/km+easter3+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katie heard from one of her friends that Erin Hunter, one of her favorite authors was coming to speak. Erin Hunter writes the "Warriors" series for kids - it's about cats. And. Ummm. That's all I know. I think that there are 6 series of 6 books. So, Katie brought her hardback copies and got autographs. After the author did the book signing, she talked about the writing process. And oh, my, was it funny. It turns out that she uses a pen name. And she chose Erin Hunter because it would put her on the shelf by Brian Jacques who writes the "Redwall" series - which is a fantasy about mice. (Yep. That's all I know about that series, too.) She was also drafted into writing this series by her publisher. She actually hates cats (and apparently rather awful things happen to the warrior cats in the stories). Her stories about the contrivances in the publishing world were rather fascinating!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDZc9zP9sP6Bbl6c2to3CJFM9nmVXwMRUqBT8cdeStYmcFvnfzjLeUhYWljGW_4_KOTXN9PQ-a47jdH23iRCh9ixlJVnYElvdsVDCSUVYEQ_n6PHNkHxNUHnHL18NhJ8hz9zeY5yMwL-7/s1600/erin+hunter+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDZc9zP9sP6Bbl6c2to3CJFM9nmVXwMRUqBT8cdeStYmcFvnfzjLeUhYWljGW_4_KOTXN9PQ-a47jdH23iRCh9ixlJVnYElvdsVDCSUVYEQ_n6PHNkHxNUHnHL18NhJ8hz9zeY5yMwL-7/s640/erin+hunter+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiaFNlCL3x9XHZTLCkHmv47jyUQJzrq-O1YXL0_SSgYsX164PHL3dLEXOMJa1wM6tdjOLml9nB_PLYmqJpddFJcuZHw_020-O0XRxqf8oj8x1jXS8TwzhW31fzLIHuLswUUy3a_f_XMZy/s1600/erin+hunter2+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiaFNlCL3x9XHZTLCkHmv47jyUQJzrq-O1YXL0_SSgYsX164PHL3dLEXOMJa1wM6tdjOLml9nB_PLYmqJpddFJcuZHw_020-O0XRxqf8oj8x1jXS8TwzhW31fzLIHuLswUUy3a_f_XMZy/s640/erin+hunter2+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Madalyn's birthday falls in the middle of April. And for her birthday, I thought it would be fun if we surprised her with a room makeover. Here is the before picture:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccoIBEVp59rSXHLyr0gBy3pt0W12U-b-eoPzPqN2Bj9SN6TJ-eRru1ulBKYWm3-1yLNDdSC1KcnsMjoczHtv7iQlYGp-jJDmUXxA_-F5gf9iraizLefLjoSVnmaLwI91NEVhY-mVrsg-4/s1600/Madalyn%2527s+room+before+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccoIBEVp59rSXHLyr0gBy3pt0W12U-b-eoPzPqN2Bj9SN6TJ-eRru1ulBKYWm3-1yLNDdSC1KcnsMjoczHtv7iQlYGp-jJDmUXxA_-F5gf9iraizLefLjoSVnmaLwI91NEVhY-mVrsg-4/s640/Madalyn%2527s+room+before+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Michael took the day off of work - we told Madalyn that his work took a holiday that day - and as soon as she was out the door, we took the bunkbeds down and moved them to our basement. And we brought up the double bed from the guest room. We had ordered a new headboard - but it had not arrived - so we stole the one out of Katie's room until the new one arrived. I wish we had time to paint - but we completed the transformation with a new quilt, valance, and lots of framed pictures on the walls (actually, there is even more now - there is another set of collage prints, plus the pictures of Madalyn swimming with the dolphins when we were in Mexico.) And here is the after:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzPXd1kmyD_7KYIJrneD2LWuyoHEI2B6PRySDCgrS2AegOOcHD0iLsL5wwFXH72JTL6O2s0WNOshWC_fM5EBEAkXUctRuCforEwRTNiYupdgS-2cHcW0qd79LbbuUyZN-QUmRD2rIa2dz/s1600/Madalyn%2527s+room+copy+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzPXd1kmyD_7KYIJrneD2LWuyoHEI2B6PRySDCgrS2AegOOcHD0iLsL5wwFXH72JTL6O2s0WNOshWC_fM5EBEAkXUctRuCforEwRTNiYupdgS-2cHcW0qd79LbbuUyZN-QUmRD2rIa2dz/s640/Madalyn%2527s+room+copy+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpUSMD-fpu4nyGxeTODnQP3YvB6_Gj3wS3KKV4cD1oX1cyRYpnxLGQl7eTMbLGxfi0kxfNkR6Rwo7-XR2BaEKMCDZgV_nfJ449kdsZ7IHnJxk4PHfx9-RwXFAVw8lTv0tzQznpmthWaXI/s1600/Madalyn%2527s+room4+copy+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpUSMD-fpu4nyGxeTODnQP3YvB6_Gj3wS3KKV4cD1oX1cyRYpnxLGQl7eTMbLGxfi0kxfNkR6Rwo7-XR2BaEKMCDZgV_nfJ449kdsZ7IHnJxk4PHfx9-RwXFAVw8lTv0tzQznpmthWaXI/s640/Madalyn%2527s+room4+copy+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When Madalyn got home from school, I met her at the door and asked her what happened to her room. She really thought I was mad at her. So she went up to her room to see the damage - and was sooo surprised with what she found. It was a great birthday gift!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYjLK7Cl4GTSrs-Bf_CjEAlP3IAQcrvSpzRyMvGokJJg4iJIeS6Pbq1Lx8gBjmLzu_6JrZknXwKtI8g_NQUXpU2rlH7aYkmLKVGTEecFs2Q8_4TgjKaw1cNcR0klEgORc4rhHSopejO0F/s1600/Madalyn+in+her+new+room+copy+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYjLK7Cl4GTSrs-Bf_CjEAlP3IAQcrvSpzRyMvGokJJg4iJIeS6Pbq1Lx8gBjmLzu_6JrZknXwKtI8g_NQUXpU2rlH7aYkmLKVGTEecFs2Q8_4TgjKaw1cNcR0klEgORc4rhHSopejO0F/s640/Madalyn+in+her+new+room+copy+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day, Madalyn had a party at the rock climbing place. She loved climbing. And then was totally wiped out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MkTzl9KAId3sZDMAGWm52E4Sl-5pp70-HSg_A_rw0ApnwjyGQ_g0V4S9CqSakmSeUiho0AVNsW2ihvQ3FB6SNKkJLyzyjffNVCIMXaOsTo9Q4WVcXO33ua9eW13Q7S5PRCsc-ElETn71/s1600/rock+climbing+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MkTzl9KAId3sZDMAGWm52E4Sl-5pp70-HSg_A_rw0ApnwjyGQ_g0V4S9CqSakmSeUiho0AVNsW2ihvQ3FB6SNKkJLyzyjffNVCIMXaOsTo9Q4WVcXO33ua9eW13Q7S5PRCsc-ElETn71/s640/rock+climbing+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD18_T2nZIdNMCou4XlhvgFJVKqU0LGR9XNiXqdcLKWGVRdHCvl-cbye94UX73pVRzw7Xd2KSdS4ThwPBw6UEj9p91CdPkAIdJe06hY8Rljjjtz6KFGjfyPiAnii8zoGNm5TloPmNukVL-/s1600/wiped+out+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD18_T2nZIdNMCou4XlhvgFJVKqU0LGR9XNiXqdcLKWGVRdHCvl-cbye94UX73pVRzw7Xd2KSdS4ThwPBw6UEj9p91CdPkAIdJe06hY8Rljjjtz6KFGjfyPiAnii8zoGNm5TloPmNukVL-/s640/wiped+out+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Katie had a new brace made for her scoliosis. I am thinking that I should do a whole post on scoliosis. And the horrors of the Boston Brace. This picture is of her being casted. We had another brace made last month. It was our third in a year. My poor checking account.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzQrijMB5cUBekhIwqxIqGRUxRGOk8zv9SUC4SpglmD_voWFVg9kbp4iyXOF38VSZrcnOdXgXw6Mlmi0x9TOG4xYWCe1VpC49aM5hkpuhBOyV1OopvlVIPtQ2F-Id3IgMQbfFrP9SVRg0/s1600/getting+brace+made+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzQrijMB5cUBekhIwqxIqGRUxRGOk8zv9SUC4SpglmD_voWFVg9kbp4iyXOF38VSZrcnOdXgXw6Mlmi0x9TOG4xYWCe1VpC49aM5hkpuhBOyV1OopvlVIPtQ2F-Id3IgMQbfFrP9SVRg0/s640/getting+brace+made+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We still have cookies left. After two months. People are very hard to track down for deliveries. Actually, I still have 2 boxes in my dining room right now for someone that we never delievered for. I wonder if they are any good any more?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU24nUFDk8M2q8Zwo6XIm7Od46Oul5JWoS6wKbX5kWhR2kB1zzqA8M-qOMOQWkEqisPJYR2MHSvjRpJPwwNCClbQEqksUbNn-xpJ2gwig2BwzLc2DjwtoN8cYiRDFaPGPTxGdPYbX-OWuB/s1600/cookies+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU24nUFDk8M2q8Zwo6XIm7Od46Oul5JWoS6wKbX5kWhR2kB1zzqA8M-qOMOQWkEqisPJYR2MHSvjRpJPwwNCClbQEqksUbNn-xpJ2gwig2BwzLc2DjwtoN8cYiRDFaPGPTxGdPYbX-OWuB/s640/cookies+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of scouts, Madalyn and her troop went horseback riding. This horse farm is actually less than a mile down the road from my neighborhood. I love living in the burbs where there is still the odd juxtaposition of Target shopping centers, neighborhoods, and farms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjX74adccVtditK_t2CCLfHZDWDYsNS8xVqOCzN3u4XD1alEPfJ1FO_HBJiq6L9HXl2cWcU586Gi2d6txRDvIxcfIva_Y4T3P4hFAv15oeBb5mu0sEHXAV1N9iZn19LsWx73BmKgGcd33/s1600/horseback+riding2+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjX74adccVtditK_t2CCLfHZDWDYsNS8xVqOCzN3u4XD1alEPfJ1FO_HBJiq6L9HXl2cWcU586Gi2d6txRDvIxcfIva_Y4T3P4hFAv15oeBb5mu0sEHXAV1N9iZn19LsWx73BmKgGcd33/s640/horseback+riding2+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKfn8dVHiR0iVV2rQdqw0iVRwsEbsP2kkPZzHiS-QftNzobJut6p18BGwev8qLwVTQ4GJenEqxEJbEIaFXvoTEXwsGb4Mk_vM1_Qe29dvjnJl9IyMNVz1_EUZdR3fxGlzhvpZ3HqXrnX5/s1600/horseback+riding+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKfn8dVHiR0iVV2rQdqw0iVRwsEbsP2kkPZzHiS-QftNzobJut6p18BGwev8qLwVTQ4GJenEqxEJbEIaFXvoTEXwsGb4Mk_vM1_Qe29dvjnJl9IyMNVz1_EUZdR3fxGlzhvpZ3HqXrnX5/s640/horseback+riding+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And we wrapped up April with Tacky Day. Isn't that how you wrap up your Aprils?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiiK_FmCdrUQvJo4cEpYs1x4yBH8dAcV77HO_dPUlp2tgcXgRChMuG5JUcjGCBVwzfvVmb1v99aaZNEO5pMgul3ysyM5x3yqRyAi9zdxo42RAJCY4MLSjVwlVs7sojPNzsgFZKOYRP48s/s1600/tacky+day+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiiK_FmCdrUQvJo4cEpYs1x4yBH8dAcV77HO_dPUlp2tgcXgRChMuG5JUcjGCBVwzfvVmb1v99aaZNEO5pMgul3ysyM5x3yqRyAi9zdxo42RAJCY4MLSjVwlVs7sojPNzsgFZKOYRP48s/s640/tacky+day+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></div>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-39595906380473963752011-01-06T16:17:00.000-05:002011-01-06T16:17:11.514-05:00What I did on my summer vacation<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's been a sad two years of blogging. I kinda got thrown off course. And I am still not quite sure that I am back on the straight and narrow. But I want to be. Especially since I haven't scrapbooked in 4 years. I rather need to be back on that path. Of filling the internet with our stories. Anecdotes. And proof in pictures.</div><br />
So. This is what we did last year.<br />
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I always start my scrapbook off with Katie's birthday. Even though it happens on the last day of the year, we usually celebrate on the first day of the year. And last year was no exception. We started the party on her birthday with lunch (or maybe it was dinner. It's been a whole year. I really can't be expected to remember. So. When I start scrapbooking again, is it okay to make up details??) at Red Robin. And surprised her with a cell phone.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgindfZD27_CFXoqn0tir4QsifnOPb9d7CUUssLMxSYtthsHAytt7L71TeNi5SW8_piMGE9SL_1iNqJpiSX5q5TNkf_enf8QFgP-UbbUF1oq-6qC_DPK1u5v2E2OkL29XXL3HoFiYVqKb0i/s1600/Katie%2527s+bday+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgindfZD27_CFXoqn0tir4QsifnOPb9d7CUUssLMxSYtthsHAytt7L71TeNi5SW8_piMGE9SL_1iNqJpiSX5q5TNkf_enf8QFgP-UbbUF1oq-6qC_DPK1u5v2E2OkL29XXL3HoFiYVqKb0i/s640/Katie%2527s+bday+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhch5s2kQ5UYCSYgyOFp8f5RrINGfMMKzqA01SibQXlCuRJ4kPOJU3QDHne2ERXtHHwAF5C7GPRBP9og0_jcqgl67NmgM1g25PUDUO4ZCCkqrmk8NoJm38BCxK6A21uKe36ZAzwr8DmGdyE/s1600/bday+phone+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhch5s2kQ5UYCSYgyOFp8f5RrINGfMMKzqA01SibQXlCuRJ4kPOJU3QDHne2ERXtHHwAF5C7GPRBP9og0_jcqgl67NmgM1g25PUDUO4ZCCkqrmk8NoJm38BCxK6A21uKe36ZAzwr8DmGdyE/s640/bday+phone+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the following day, she had some friends join her for rock climbing.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEohx3SLdsZmjOICDGAeN1fT8dDa179ZE8yTrhIQTH7k4RdcqNFZnptTLVwIFyPveblnO0_PSjqNO-YaIGaebOKu0LnLyfUPjpWRr7EhoF7NhRVFXcKGcmuI3Z6e_S8E6LTNl4g5JOYvF/s1600/rock+climbing+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEohx3SLdsZmjOICDGAeN1fT8dDa179ZE8yTrhIQTH7k4RdcqNFZnptTLVwIFyPveblnO0_PSjqNO-YaIGaebOKu0LnLyfUPjpWRr7EhoF7NhRVFXcKGcmuI3Z6e_S8E6LTNl4g5JOYvF/s640/rock+climbing+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomxeXqKjPPrDW69_UarpW1bYH8Jd8v6e71PuLiMP-1FVGcASKbCuMiRYr89m6Y8icI17jJspQyp_ref0Dzh22lQC2uo-3y31HIDp2JWkgNQKeVQrvQbvFUjbvV4absMU-rF0FAZv0mPpE/s1600/bday+friends+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomxeXqKjPPrDW69_UarpW1bYH8Jd8v6e71PuLiMP-1FVGcASKbCuMiRYr89m6Y8icI17jJspQyp_ref0Dzh22lQC2uo-3y31HIDp2JWkgNQKeVQrvQbvFUjbvV4absMU-rF0FAZv0mPpE/s640/bday+friends+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcd-iTYvpAbKute3xtbLK_mNMQ38SGWN4kPFsE97oFrrTN54a8gpUzG6bxBG6DvLjzt5aBEwX6jIDgcePdAg75j0nuZSbJu3EIFW9cgsQqhAYA7BZffGjh_ODLXLDW-dSXEg8ThBu8OHI/s1600/new+friends+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcd-iTYvpAbKute3xtbLK_mNMQ38SGWN4kPFsE97oFrrTN54a8gpUzG6bxBG6DvLjzt5aBEwX6jIDgcePdAg75j0nuZSbJu3EIFW9cgsQqhAYA7BZffGjh_ODLXLDW-dSXEg8ThBu8OHI/s640/new+friends+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">She might have made a new friend, too. (Do you think that workers at rock climbing places are required to go shirtless for tween parties?)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Of the few posts that I did last year, I did manage to cover the excitement of Madalyn's straight A's. And my bookclub trip to Asheville.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I also started a second blog last year. It was supposed to be a photo a day thing. Which was fun to work on my photoshop skills. But like this blog, it too fell off my radar. And was way too much pressure to remember to take a photo every day. It lasted about 90 something days. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In February, the girls started back with their tennis lessons.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCSqOkY_Qln_6o1CMxAAhlGzLSWk0yLb1Qne2E3HKMeJUuU8sfF_-qM6AEw4EHsDilmBiAhI_kYWnn4U-d_C4HE94mM9i_W10gkm0z3PKlX99rR1SJWJZ_y8BHaJc-XJ5Ls_GbFttIJdx/s1600/tennis+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCSqOkY_Qln_6o1CMxAAhlGzLSWk0yLb1Qne2E3HKMeJUuU8sfF_-qM6AEw4EHsDilmBiAhI_kYWnn4U-d_C4HE94mM9i_W10gkm0z3PKlX99rR1SJWJZ_y8BHaJc-XJ5Ls_GbFttIJdx/s640/tennis+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsJs40_mNOm_SabXjgStas1KRMd4AwMC6rxmOhQZsl3xseEzOjwfdJGsZXwMXrFR0qyKIz0YF0FPuoCGvpyPohKkS47vbdOG2rpOhq7m5v4DpwIGsiX4bApyfjoWCB-gD9ILdcURlE-VI/s1600/Madalyn+tennis+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsJs40_mNOm_SabXjgStas1KRMd4AwMC6rxmOhQZsl3xseEzOjwfdJGsZXwMXrFR0qyKIz0YF0FPuoCGvpyPohKkS47vbdOG2rpOhq7m5v4DpwIGsiX4bApyfjoWCB-gD9ILdcURlE-VI/s640/Madalyn+tennis+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
I took my Latin class to see "Percy Jackson" - and the students who had not read the books loved it. The rest of us were rather disappointed. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1282LG2PnErACEGnquKKPLevojxmd1ht2FC4v4DeCotuIZ6v1jCB5bGSlZuEQgRQcRAyEssagCKPUoxxpxWb6mzT8Dz6W1J2ijTIQh4bdJKHfb8wry_h8ljZsPa30QAUj3I9jOGWXaG6H/s1600/percy+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1282LG2PnErACEGnquKKPLevojxmd1ht2FC4v4DeCotuIZ6v1jCB5bGSlZuEQgRQcRAyEssagCKPUoxxpxWb6mzT8Dz6W1J2ijTIQh4bdJKHfb8wry_h8ljZsPa30QAUj3I9jOGWXaG6H/s640/percy+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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We celebrated Valentine's day with cards, candy, and a movie.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXA7R57PM8uAFlot7bdczLwbU-94RkYna7f6vxq6oEKXM2jZzv2TjyMQ2AIK7jJpnYtVYO-0acj29tiL2qxXXn2glrh5nj0u5SpJAWI_ln_Rr6fqXL78ECQasMFXCYgNQ8u-4OCBYQD9Q/s1600/nina+and+Madalyn+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXA7R57PM8uAFlot7bdczLwbU-94RkYna7f6vxq6oEKXM2jZzv2TjyMQ2AIK7jJpnYtVYO-0acj29tiL2qxXXn2glrh5nj0u5SpJAWI_ln_Rr6fqXL78ECQasMFXCYgNQ8u-4OCBYQD9Q/s640/nina+and+Madalyn+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eoj6h_e56NJSyUMZ5SX-1lh1gM8fFg-zwNJyNxUNR1Kh-h_FQAAOojxAV4guuWY3RQdk33oPFEj1HV6uD9PXkzV3W4O1Egt5nYam9FoxvVpPsV1VMCCzuUD9dc_xQgwajEEvr-IokrsP/s1600/valentine+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eoj6h_e56NJSyUMZ5SX-1lh1gM8fFg-zwNJyNxUNR1Kh-h_FQAAOojxAV4guuWY3RQdk33oPFEj1HV6uD9PXkzV3W4O1Egt5nYam9FoxvVpPsV1VMCCzuUD9dc_xQgwajEEvr-IokrsP/s640/valentine+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Madalyn and Michael went to the Girl Scout Father/Daughter dance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvyXf-qlA_5usHc9dCKJJuCBKs__w5wnbXcP_fqLXGVAYltOAX9MryP9e5lqVkSohdYuNvzrgzo_jUrtFNdTGDk-dNAYOfhrBjLrD-5928tHbsd2WFvUMSg06Nf8FbOCpjbNR1oEERWx5/s1600/girl+scout+dance+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvyXf-qlA_5usHc9dCKJJuCBKs__w5wnbXcP_fqLXGVAYltOAX9MryP9e5lqVkSohdYuNvzrgzo_jUrtFNdTGDk-dNAYOfhrBjLrD-5928tHbsd2WFvUMSg06Nf8FbOCpjbNR1oEERWx5/s640/girl+scout+dance+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a><br />
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And we had the arrival and attemped delivery of those dreaded cookies. (Did you know that sales start up on Friday? Do you need any or want to donate any??)<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4jvUh2lupqGEVC4Dj1IMhq8CfgPBwTIFujqe1E88RbjgRyaIUU2fX_jFXk77OvVRnmDUGUMfVAzfeZSF1TxJJ8WAIo8iGMH_K4uLf7GIAD1QuZOVzfOhkK_5m3sTs0G_WHfZPy5Nf56p/s1600/cookies+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4jvUh2lupqGEVC4Dj1IMhq8CfgPBwTIFujqe1E88RbjgRyaIUU2fX_jFXk77OvVRnmDUGUMfVAzfeZSF1TxJJ8WAIo8iGMH_K4uLf7GIAD1QuZOVzfOhkK_5m3sTs0G_WHfZPy5Nf56p/s640/cookies+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">March brought us more tennis.</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cOhiHxWZEcMns-DessXiVRBOW2z26uV0uUsO1Y6lqKxjBtG0GaccJ1klty_risCJjaP_m1Sl6T4PR6rn6v4sOpLeXg-SRYgDUmlsdQ1SjUU5kpROaEB2MlAa4zlk0focv_lgRw2qHhne/s1600/Katie+bw+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cOhiHxWZEcMns-DessXiVRBOW2z26uV0uUsO1Y6lqKxjBtG0GaccJ1klty_risCJjaP_m1Sl6T4PR6rn6v4sOpLeXg-SRYgDUmlsdQ1SjUU5kpROaEB2MlAa4zlk0focv_lgRw2qHhne/s640/Katie+bw+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="580" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5md2QGcxaCmynpGs0u3zVar2-2yXSa2QEhhdh-oNrBwdwQ8padXkFULeMkgst_aM0nSMqw592r6xGyYPq-_QTXtuW8kuVPFddanGEMBceUriYl2TFk1-levSHKqB-xY-DKXZOKSr737n/s1600/practing+serving+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5md2QGcxaCmynpGs0u3zVar2-2yXSa2QEhhdh-oNrBwdwQ8padXkFULeMkgst_aM0nSMqw592r6xGyYPq-_QTXtuW8kuVPFddanGEMBceUriYl2TFk1-levSHKqB-xY-DKXZOKSr737n/s640/practing+serving+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Mine and Michael's 14th wedding anniversary. We celebrated by going to Ted's. Just the two of us. And I think we went to Barnes and Noble after. Maybe. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<img border="0" height="426" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vNbZHugi3ur0qoqFNZ0PBYaWW0FAwEfKtF7cShX5p7AFB0chOEeRcEA8pKkjoJxgYAwh7xVY3q38fIKh9X_M7hoVTc5SpfWrTWp_Xtlpi3eBTeeOGVYNC-isFXPPJZCVwRQKL5lVH5x8/s640/anniversary+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Oh. And there was St. Patrick's day. Madalyn's school had a contest to see whose class could wear the most green. She even wore a blanket. And a green pen stuck behind her ear!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SzCFUHvpJ4n4GAj8-4RkXtptrdHWa1YJzbNRP2kwbNHJXiUU-Oq9Ri7ItBlB5SBEKy_VN3xdH5J5MEFdDqA0gHM3hIj-Jrc66nFI1fkFXxYrS0GNVuiyJAN_ka3w9Ja6baBkRneQmNaR/s1600/Madalyn%2527s+St+Patrick+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SzCFUHvpJ4n4GAj8-4RkXtptrdHWa1YJzbNRP2kwbNHJXiUU-Oq9Ri7ItBlB5SBEKy_VN3xdH5J5MEFdDqA0gHM3hIj-Jrc66nFI1fkFXxYrS0GNVuiyJAN_ka3w9Ja6baBkRneQmNaR/s640/Madalyn%2527s+St+Patrick+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
And that was our first few months of 2010. And if formatting on blogger doesn't kill me first, I'll hopefully tell you about the rest of our year. Cross your fingers!</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vNbZHugi3ur0qoqFNZ0PBYaWW0FAwEfKtF7cShX5p7AFB0chOEeRcEA8pKkjoJxgYAwh7xVY3q38fIKh9X_M7hoVTc5SpfWrTWp_Xtlpi3eBTeeOGVYNC-isFXPPJZCVwRQKL5lVH5x8/s1600/anniversary+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1282LG2PnErACEGnquKKPLevojxmd1ht2FC4v4DeCotuIZ6v1jCB5bGSlZuEQgRQcRAyEssagCKPUoxxpxWb6mzT8Dz6W1J2ijTIQh4bdJKHfb8wry_h8ljZsPa30QAUj3I9jOGWXaG6H/s1600/percy+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-26296177557367377392010-04-05T10:25:00.002-04:002010-04-05T12:44:12.196-04:00Sing...sing a song"Dirty babe. You see the shackles. Baby I'm your slave. I'll let you whip me if I misbehave..." ~ Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake<br />
<br />
"The whole damn world is just as obsessed. With who's the best dressed and who's having sex, who's got the money, who gets the honeys..." ~ High School Never Ends by Bowling for Soup<br />
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They just take on new meaning. When the songs are sung by your 8 year old. At the top of her lungs. In the back seat of the mini-van. All while having a raging case of the hiccups.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbvTLyzhfNHro1a20HY1qtAL3sNlL0h5QYdT_uG5qswcvnDLJbhseFkdrANbvN0krbY-trg5pGJWPbv53dUHpNMw22qWsimCjhQtv_t1TJ7WmaJXu4OjLzXKgXExPuUatUxjIkEPCUk16/s1600/IMG_2065+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbvTLyzhfNHro1a20HY1qtAL3sNlL0h5QYdT_uG5qswcvnDLJbhseFkdrANbvN0krbY-trg5pGJWPbv53dUHpNMw22qWsimCjhQtv_t1TJ7WmaJXu4OjLzXKgXExPuUatUxjIkEPCUk16/s640/IMG_2065+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" />Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-28134739250927770542010-03-04T22:50:00.001-05:002010-03-04T22:51:24.137-05:00FolderolI hear that Tuesday is the day that I am supposed to be random. But since I am usually a day late and a dollar short. Thursday makes perfect sense to give you the bits and pieces. Flotsam and jetsam. List of sundries. <br />
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I had almost thought that I was back in the swing of blogging. And now it's been almost two weeks since I posted. I have 9 posts in draft on my dashboard. But I don't suppose that counts. However. My photoblog is current. Shocking, no?<br />
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A post that is currently residing in my head. And not in the draft section. Is one on Judy Blume. But every time I think about it. I get irate. And flummoxed. For what you ask? Barnes and Noble has a new rating system on their website. And a group rated "Are you there God, It's me Margaret" as a book that is IFFY for anyone under 14. IFFY? Are you kidding me? I could go on and on. But what comes out is incoherent babble. And incoherent babble rarely makes a good blog post. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Unless it's titled Foderol.</span> So. Instead. I decided to get my 8 year old a copy of the illustrious book. All in the spirit of solidarity.<br />
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Speaking of books. I just finished Edith Wharton's "Ethan Frome." It was my bookclub reading for the month. And I had thought I read it in high school. But after finishing it. I am not so sure. I don't recall any of it. Of course it is always possible that I was <em>supposed</em> to read it. But didn't. Anyway...I really liked it. The writing is amazing. And picturesque. But the subject matter. There is not another way to describe it other than bleak. Or tragic. Ethan - the title character - is just trapped in a horrible life. Where he is just trying to figure out how to survive. Rather than to live. <br />
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Katie is studying weathering in science. Specifically Devil's Tower in Wyoming. And how it's the neck of the volcano. But the outside of the volcano eroded away. Naturally, we watched "Close Encounters" to go along with the lesson. About weathering. *Ahem*. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We end up going to Panera bread every Thursday for lunch. It's an expensive addiction. But yummy. </div><br />
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Madalyn keeps talking about this delicious drink she is getting at school. She wants to know when we can get some ya-hoo milk. And she refuses to believe me when I told her it's called yoo-hoo. Not ya-hoo.<br />
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I am just loving LOST this season. I don't think that there has ever been a show that is that enveloping. And I love that Katie is watching it with us. Look at the cool shirt I found for her:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzfbdN7JKh_32GjfG41JFaKro3VdmocqHnUNr9rRK7IT4Kiw-TbJZgFfX6hssnAzsSW9LhU4hY6UzsVcpG7YujDB4_lph9ySBNZq8qA0f-t6kxMXey_rrszXM45t1x-6zzxfuUH3Xh5Bv/s1600-h/Lost+tshirt+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzfbdN7JKh_32GjfG41JFaKro3VdmocqHnUNr9rRK7IT4Kiw-TbJZgFfX6hssnAzsSW9LhU4hY6UzsVcpG7YujDB4_lph9ySBNZq8qA0f-t6kxMXey_rrszXM45t1x-6zzxfuUH3Xh5Bv/s640/Lost+tshirt+(Large).jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On the other hand. I don't think that American Idol could be any worse than it is this season. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So...what about you? Opinions on Judy Blume? Did you pretend to read required books in school? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></div>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-28823378781510262492010-02-19T07:44:00.001-05:002010-02-19T13:27:53.348-05:00In the kitchen with Kat: Chicken Tacos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recipes used to be a regular feature here at casa Sunshine and Lemonade. In fact, it was almost a year ago when I last posted a recipe. A yummy <a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/02/in-kitchen-with-kat-can-i-bring-you.html">chicken and rice casserole</a>. The perfect thing to offer to your family. Or someone in need of a meal. Much better than some of the more interesting offerings that we received while on <a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/04/in-homestretch.html">braincation</a>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Like pot roast pasta. Or carrot jello. Or boiled cabbage. Or lasagna with peas and corn.</span> Not that I am complaining. Dinner made by someone else is always a good thing. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Unless it's pot roast pasta.</span> I am now the proud owner of a rather large hole.</div><br />
One of the kitchen tools that I have never been a huge fan of is the crockpot. I have used mine occasionally. Never with much success. It seems like everything that I have tried ends up tasting the same. Or swimming in its own grease. Appetizing not. However. I do have a few crockpot recipes that I like. And I thought I'd share them with you. Starting with the very easiest one. Easy. And most importantly - yummy.<br />
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This recipe is so easy that it only calls for three ingredients. Three. 3. T.H.R.E.E. That's it. Bonelesss chicken breasts. Salsa. And taco seasoning.<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAFggesQJ2tLy54uDLhf94qBjbZwXndTdUBjv6dbBN4PywQBvus0inQ_KCWmiID5eMLLA5p_xoZOhkrJm_BqyG17u18K60Ns_eVR3ZOTKxYGvXYyPV4O2mb7LfsR9MqfNwijU8TCIwyUp/s640/chicken+taco+ingredients+(Large).jpg" /><br />
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Just dump them all in your crockpot.<br />
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<div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1keRXc91PwoTFuKiRDXoOtzor8l9tc4n9hM-yYH0UmlS95yJu9FRmDzcE2k_LCZ2WxMqhoq7Xw1NEzLqqoCieXPq7J1qv_Pvc_2M8MpwqGd6doVCSqd5451U4uJle2GRjlfPG9vHdgkC/s640/adding+the+taco+seasoning+(Large).jpg" /> <br />
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Maybe swirl it a bit with a spoon. And ignore it the rest of the day.<br />
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When it's cooked, that chicken will just fall apart. It might need a smidge of help from you and a fork. But it's rather effortless.<br />
<div><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEKnlOGaWrIb-Srs7-2ZntYMFHFrAUN1FcY4C3AWFHmfZEl-AL9pTrFoYvunn3s5dAlbWnSCRRsxvie_4rGuzjbI4FI3awgKl8FlNXCoxNfQ2Xcae6slPkDwqRu4WoJu4hnFjFPFIUze-/s640/chicken+tacos+(Large).jpg" /><br />
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</div><div>And voila! Chicken tacos.<br />
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What is interesting about this is that chicken you started with. Well. It's like it multiplies. After you eat your tacos. You will still have LOTS of chicken left. You can freeze some. You can make chicken nachos. You can make enchiladas. Taco salad. Tortilla soup. Or just keep noshing on it as you do the dishes. And wonder about the mystery of your disappearing leftovers. <br />
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Here is my simple recipe:<br />
6 boneless chicken breast (frozen or thawed)<br />
16oz jar of salsa spiced to your taste<br />
1 envelope of taco seasoning<br />
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Put all the ingredients in the crockpot and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. Enjoy!<br />
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So...what about you? Do you like your crockpot? Have a favorite crockpot recipe? Do you use those crockpot liners?<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></div></div></div>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-53039180458176235462010-02-17T06:44:00.001-05:002010-02-17T06:44:00.271-05:00Vegas, Baby part VI<div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><div style="text-align: left;">It is the story that seems to never end. But today. It will. Finally. Really.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And apparently I left ya'll with a cliffhanger. It's always been my goal to write a serialized set of posts. With endings that beg for more information. But. I have realized. My writing skillz are not that good. But I did it with my last Vegas post. Without even realizing. So. To answer your questions. Yes. Michael got his shirts back. Ya'll can all let out the collective breath you were holding.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After I left Elena, I went to get ready for the conference. And then back to the casino. Down one hall. And another. Around a corner. Ask someone. Turn around. Go to another hall. A different corner. And then I found them! I saw Lula. And people I have only seen online. Like Heather. And Tiffany. And Angie. And Jen. And DiPaola Momma. And Tonya. And Swirl Girl. And somehow. I did manage to have a brain and get a picture with Swirl Girl! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div><div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrCIeYFknuvV-C4ryHbSjQBObAniotHBb1SoBymBilxOEbYy6jK8jG0M73L6dNr3ArcRWoWU9Feiuw9WNKxU1jt0cMeFWkg5-v8yKXbMY_LYiwzOUefUv_AiVmzSrvdQrlruIQaBmgBxS/s1600-h/Kat+and+Swirl+Girl+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrCIeYFknuvV-C4ryHbSjQBObAniotHBb1SoBymBilxOEbYy6jK8jG0M73L6dNr3ArcRWoWU9Feiuw9WNKxU1jt0cMeFWkg5-v8yKXbMY_LYiwzOUefUv_AiVmzSrvdQrlruIQaBmgBxS/s640/Kat+and+Swirl+Girl+(Large).jpg" width="640" border="0" ct="true" /></a></div><p>I am not sure what happened to my brain. Cause my camera was right there!<br /><br />The conference had a short opening. And then we broke for dinner. And then re-grouped for the evening cocktail party. Where there was dancing. And an open bar. Shannon, Lula, Elena, and I hung out together. </p><p><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6ilFK1FRoS3K9y1HjtZ2EgHWkT6ynmtX8qJcrakAvFH5GoZV_XeMtdPRB4OTr0p_JBPkegbZ-vbILUG4uDtEMYPr98hN38zmk_Rb3w2ucP58owmnbQjsSoiYVrF0zVUhMBVw_VPJo09z/s1600-h/Kat+Shannon+Lula+Elena+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6ilFK1FRoS3K9y1HjtZ2EgHWkT6ynmtX8qJcrakAvFH5GoZV_XeMtdPRB4OTr0p_JBPkegbZ-vbILUG4uDtEMYPr98hN38zmk_Rb3w2ucP58owmnbQjsSoiYVrF0zVUhMBVw_VPJo09z/s640/Kat+Shannon+Lula+Elena+(Large).jpg" width="640" border="0" ct="true" /></a></p><p>Celebrated Shannon's birthday. </p><p><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIt7sDYHw8vOpI9EfAx9JgW3gjMD2HLcclMRe44ZLJkMZ0BW29C0OSOHdtKjwGEleROB6h0TqL61SLgTw3i_gOVdOMN-Nu05GOMD_GHrzkjilfIvrlxddqE4Mg-PzOQnNMi_oX88F9ItlJ/s1600-h/Kat+Elena+Shannon+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIt7sDYHw8vOpI9EfAx9JgW3gjMD2HLcclMRe44ZLJkMZ0BW29C0OSOHdtKjwGEleROB6h0TqL61SLgTw3i_gOVdOMN-Nu05GOMD_GHrzkjilfIvrlxddqE4Mg-PzOQnNMi_oX88F9ItlJ/s640/Kat+Elena+Shannon+(Large).jpg" width="640" border="0" ct="true" /></a></p><p>And we took lots of photos on Lula's camera while she was off dancing. Socializing. And drinking. The best photo of Michael and I was taken on that camera!</p><p><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4StfkpRmKvX4Xq7nKoE3gENSFUfZSb58mNQqNuiarEnOGyiixfIRVqmTDIpd-Ch4c0hUAQUzMx3z2ZPeU2GmkELzzsEROiFpvLINJHrffsprlj4WqTW6HS71GWRiapla4v-pBPSwBgIo/s1600-h/DSC00207+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1"><img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4StfkpRmKvX4Xq7nKoE3gENSFUfZSb58mNQqNuiarEnOGyiixfIRVqmTDIpd-Ch4c0hUAQUzMx3z2ZPeU2GmkELzzsEROiFpvLINJHrffsprlj4WqTW6HS71GWRiapla4v-pBPSwBgIo/s640/DSC00207+(Large).JPG" width="640" border="0" ct="true" /></a><br /><br />We finally crashed late. And then had to get up early again. While we were conferencing. I left Michael with an assignment. To go to the half price ticket booth and find us something to do in the evening. I was hoping to see a Cirque show. He was armed with a priortized list. And a budget.<br /><br />So...what did we end up with? No tickets to Cirque. Or to that guy with the puppets who won America's got Talent. Damn budget. But we did get tickets to Anthony Cools' naughty hypnotist show at the Paris. (Did any of you see him when he was on the Millionaire Matchmaker show?) The show didn't start until later in the evening, so after the conference was over Shannon and I arranged to meet for dinner and then do a little gambling. Slot machining?<br /><br />As part of our room package through SITS, each room got $25 in slot vouchers. Can you believe that Shannon had never gambled? Well we set out to eradicate that. Pronto. Unfortunately. Shannon listened to me. She got her voucher. Dumped it into a machine. And then decided that that particular machine didn't like her. And went to switch. Except that her money did not follow her. It stayed on that machine. Which some floozy took over. And won money with Shannon's money. And left. All before we realized what happened. Oh. Wait. Was that supposed to stay in Vegas?<br /><br />Shannon and I finally decided to make our way to the Paris to meet Michael for the show. Did I mention that Shannon was joining us. What would you call that? A double date? Triple? A menage? No. Wait. Ummm. Staying in Vegas?<br /><br /><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX5IpTLWXgWfM7P21k02oMf5QuPc1HQg-7t0uWFWH4WFyJnYA8FnjgTPfZaI_ycjFB8rSrqTUQMp_Vo5pT6IelkSYFlGCXPQPGZUF7nXm4MqLzwkJrlcsHao9hmzx4sHZhARjdFw1BrKL/s1600-h/eiffel+tower+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX5IpTLWXgWfM7P21k02oMf5QuPc1HQg-7t0uWFWH4WFyJnYA8FnjgTPfZaI_ycjFB8rSrqTUQMp_Vo5pT6IelkSYFlGCXPQPGZUF7nXm4MqLzwkJrlcsHao9hmzx4sHZhARjdFw1BrKL/s640/eiffel+tower+(Large).jpg" width="428" border="0" ct="true" /></a></p><p>When we got to the Paris, Shannon and I decided to lose a few more quarters in the slots before we found Michael in the line.<br /><br />For the show, we had front row seats. And I must admit that I was quite surprised that Michael did not volunteer to be part of the show. Evidently he decided that if he paid for it, he'd watch it. And after seeing the show. I am quite glad he remained in his seat. Anthony Cools puts on a hilarious show. It is naughty. Raunchy. And not for the faint at heart. Or those without water proof mascara.<br /><br />After the show, we set out for a different show - that of the Eiffel tower. We rode up the elevator to the observation deck. And what a sight. At night. With the lights. Vegas is just beautiful.<a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmXayO-FMqzmNNejFfHF3y950WOsNeL8tzcqLOTU4tzJJHe7Wy6pmEx1vB1FIhW8jvcWcwQhc-8yvQBlicKDI0FVvxTJbrP1U62SmERTRxo_t6XtJZ4-mp2ZupHyUQ3B-d3IS-rdDMibz/s1600-h/dancing+fountains+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmXayO-FMqzmNNejFfHF3y950WOsNeL8tzcqLOTU4tzJJHe7Wy6pmEx1vB1FIhW8jvcWcwQhc-8yvQBlicKDI0FVvxTJbrP1U62SmERTRxo_t6XtJZ4-mp2ZupHyUQ3B-d3IS-rdDMibz/s640/dancing+fountains+(Large).jpg" width="640" border="0" ct="true" /></a><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvWoL5VlWiu-u7czx_kfp4tz6dfagXHOeZSJMvXEjArJu-Z2Mf2xzgi3ZDOqR99e1iQg8Wq0rXl15VnQDGJLYYNGueaT4cvsHI2ezNrobW0pkAq941WpaIN9yxIao2-1-TnJG1n5CV2FI/s1600-h/the+Bellagio+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvWoL5VlWiu-u7czx_kfp4tz6dfagXHOeZSJMvXEjArJu-Z2Mf2xzgi3ZDOqR99e1iQg8Wq0rXl15VnQDGJLYYNGueaT4cvsHI2ezNrobW0pkAq941WpaIN9yxIao2-1-TnJG1n5CV2FI/s640/the+Bellagio+(Large).jpg" width="640" border="0" ct="true" /></a><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbahhWxoo5vZKWUZryQfGe6rDP9wHVeIbT40JfAFSqJUgSNrMYKvRJ6QHurH_c5EuRevcn8bP1b-JgIyBAs8W8oGpxEg-jeHjjNvNb2FFlhXhxI0QnmAKbPR9xhhvKi48PAsWy1dAWqRs/s1600-h/the+strip+at+night+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbahhWxoo5vZKWUZryQfGe6rDP9wHVeIbT40JfAFSqJUgSNrMYKvRJ6QHurH_c5EuRevcn8bP1b-JgIyBAs8W8oGpxEg-jeHjjNvNb2FFlhXhxI0QnmAKbPR9xhhvKi48PAsWy1dAWqRs/s640/the+strip+at+night+(Large).jpg" width="640" border="0" ct="true" /></a><br /><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOkfvQ0LPTq5GNTHve559Dp0JayDlz4hNHUgTfmf1sIlNfU9E6xgxJwF7UbDmYW_jRYjTDZfQauhurjj-CW0ec0eoM3o_pqjAh7C8kzcBOnvWKu4XgiTpbok2yc3QWxRd6IvVcVKR4R2Q/s1600-h/strip+at+night+2+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOkfvQ0LPTq5GNTHve559Dp0JayDlz4hNHUgTfmf1sIlNfU9E6xgxJwF7UbDmYW_jRYjTDZfQauhurjj-CW0ec0eoM3o_pqjAh7C8kzcBOnvWKu4XgiTpbok2yc3QWxRd6IvVcVKR4R2Q/s640/strip+at+night+2+(Large).jpg" width="640" border="0" ct="true" /></a><br />And finally. Our trip was over. With just a few hours of sleep, we had to check out for our 7am flight. And head back to the real world.<br /><br />So...what about you? Have you ever seen a hypnotist show? Heard of Anthony Cools? Or forgotten to take a picture that you really meant to take??<br /><br /><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /> </p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-17372575193017448102010-02-15T20:55:00.000-05:002010-02-15T20:55:30.345-05:00Southern Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I must admit to being a bit jealous of all the snow everyone was having. Feet and feet of snow. I wasn't quite so jealous of that. I just wanted pretty snow. Pictures of my girls making snowballs. Snowmen. Snowangels. Pictures of the snow in the trees. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't want snowpocalypse. Or snowmageddon. Just snow. No ice. Pretty. Not scary.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And that is what our Southern snow was on Friday. It started lightly. Just dusting the surface.</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzU0rAPWaPZjFz29-5POuV9FAogGDQlvemRu6-gKC0iy-fsso1futmCJnXeryXrtLrTmZ2EtixgXFhQKYnM7SoxNp5b8SZCkl-ZO7XHEeNETFGuatzcc1kDhrZTRc4qVUAz4VUsFFA2Vv/s1600-h/snowing+2+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzU0rAPWaPZjFz29-5POuV9FAogGDQlvemRu6-gKC0iy-fsso1futmCJnXeryXrtLrTmZ2EtixgXFhQKYnM7SoxNp5b8SZCkl-ZO7XHEeNETFGuatzcc1kDhrZTRc4qVUAz4VUsFFA2Vv/s640/snowing+2+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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Starting in the early afternoon. So the kids didn't even lose a day of school. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzSsWgqdu-uSelb_WNZzeguL7X0OfWNHTHUOQkUUuXAGBcB8q-HIkzUZz586EV_bz7QNJlG-UnFPiMOA8DmAsbPqp3offt4lsuQkUyhtS6hMIkCiL6drOfSPZUxrGb74gBIN6em5wuNjb/s1600-h/front+of+the+house+2+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzSsWgqdu-uSelb_WNZzeguL7X0OfWNHTHUOQkUUuXAGBcB8q-HIkzUZz586EV_bz7QNJlG-UnFPiMOA8DmAsbPqp3offt4lsuQkUyhtS6hMIkCiL6drOfSPZUxrGb74gBIN6em5wuNjb/s640/front+of+the+house+2+(Large).jpg" width="428" /></a><br />
<br />
But it kept snowing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8Jp8Gy7DG8Tkz_0nA5_EN0aKmmX8OvJpccA3hSUI2p21yw7IlSTqb7OCZibTza5I_X4k2PVAqUWxXMUBvcpF9g1jC1iQigx9u1gPjQXPToVfJ_RqBy16f9o_KmUgXjvxHSZUfwzFtwVt/s1600-h/snowing5+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8Jp8Gy7DG8Tkz_0nA5_EN0aKmmX8OvJpccA3hSUI2p21yw7IlSTqb7OCZibTza5I_X4k2PVAqUWxXMUBvcpF9g1jC1iQigx9u1gPjQXPToVfJ_RqBy16f9o_KmUgXjvxHSZUfwzFtwVt/s640/snowing5+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
And snowing. Enough that there were snowballs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmROvROf8JaBsxwqDVbytFBLCRitrw_PA-UwSEvy6obR9IAsTGIBMXWjM7jz0AVrqYJ_E4NOTk1-S7qofoWG7HVAqd104OWDLe6i4Ge9XfN-QLQD2xvDk7q67tIbe86Iw1YdGQlI5we_eB/s1600-h/Katie's+snowball+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmROvROf8JaBsxwqDVbytFBLCRitrw_PA-UwSEvy6obR9IAsTGIBMXWjM7jz0AVrqYJ_E4NOTk1-S7qofoWG7HVAqd104OWDLe6i4Ge9XfN-QLQD2xvDk7q67tIbe86Iw1YdGQlI5we_eB/s640/Katie's+snowball+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<br />
Snowmen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQbawDAvcq0kcPE4rAFWrTmkIhm7FN3wy1mXGInlPJ0qFEa40f0aylJdXPqcLcv_8HLYUXzG-WfibGAsrRtvqmJnw4POupUn7zwgv0hpgW5UtrGa6l8HBViU14ZpfUdIoB7FL_vT9Bb7V/s1600-h/snowman+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQbawDAvcq0kcPE4rAFWrTmkIhm7FN3wy1mXGInlPJ0qFEa40f0aylJdXPqcLcv_8HLYUXzG-WfibGAsrRtvqmJnw4POupUn7zwgv0hpgW5UtrGa6l8HBViU14ZpfUdIoB7FL_vT9Bb7V/s640/snowman+(Large).jpg" width="428" /></a><br />
<br />
Snowangels.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz4tGrCTGz1EcFWyPLMof2WQbkdOajQXk6ggzV06q_rkiw7GQWZ44sMIKJqAv43JwFxhpVJiDZcGWtm8qOA7WQ1pKLGK88g7Z3NlUZIE2y50RrIxc0Ssw760fjdQFXHUA7V17PNu5uQ00/s1600-h/snow+angel+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz4tGrCTGz1EcFWyPLMof2WQbkdOajQXk6ggzV06q_rkiw7GQWZ44sMIKJqAv43JwFxhpVJiDZcGWtm8qOA7WQ1pKLGK88g7Z3NlUZIE2y50RrIxc0Ssw760fjdQFXHUA7V17PNu5uQ00/s640/snow+angel+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
Please note. This is a Southern snow. With Southern children. Which means that we don't have the equipment. No snow jackets. We used our rain coats. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuLFFrAY8x9nTC-AzS3yN0Ngu4wAPIyMEVJNOfaU4FxyF3GxfbRkPgZ74w3Lz6P4GCMQF4AiCHdbisaSvLmw9P1HstzPUbfVFMryv88IvKcb34LoZVsTw_aeuR6xc1VQ8l8rbMl-GqXT5/s1600-h/girls+in+the+snow+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuLFFrAY8x9nTC-AzS3yN0Ngu4wAPIyMEVJNOfaU4FxyF3GxfbRkPgZ74w3Lz6P4GCMQF4AiCHdbisaSvLmw9P1HstzPUbfVFMryv88IvKcb34LoZVsTw_aeuR6xc1VQ8l8rbMl-GqXT5/s640/girls+in+the+snow+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
No snow pants. Wet jeans and wet leggings make for a cold child. No sleds. We used garbage bags. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_HYO9R5d-4eSdTPNHi09dOFOBy_WpBvuyRwwXQ0nr51ahyphenhyphenApVofUvtqjpchbqWw5ppAIoYMVpif11Ue71Mal0ZwxLpVv7q-eE62YcFt55skgZFcnglTwm5DNSykM9oR4us3PeXO18yUf/s1600-h/Katie+sliding+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_HYO9R5d-4eSdTPNHi09dOFOBy_WpBvuyRwwXQ0nr51ahyphenhyphenApVofUvtqjpchbqWw5ppAIoYMVpif11Ue71Mal0ZwxLpVv7q-eE62YcFt55skgZFcnglTwm5DNSykM9oR4us3PeXO18yUf/s640/Katie+sliding+(Large).jpg" width="428" /></a><br />
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Does that make it a redneck snow?<br />
<br />
We even had a kitty escape because she<em> needed</em> to check out the snow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJioyalPOo5pg5Ir1nTrlvrU1O9JNBOXjpRyOcDDTMTSQ2ft3oidreCXO798WeInpWeWw807Z1GLmje73pEmgPqtyX_M4C6WCQgNgxhKtWqqDmfIN-3EsTFmy6oxcFkl2uagTA982O8Jvo/s1600-h/snowy+Ella+edge+burn+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJioyalPOo5pg5Ir1nTrlvrU1O9JNBOXjpRyOcDDTMTSQ2ft3oidreCXO798WeInpWeWw807Z1GLmje73pEmgPqtyX_M4C6WCQgNgxhKtWqqDmfIN-3EsTFmy6oxcFkl2uagTA982O8Jvo/s640/snowy+Ella+edge+burn+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
And when we woke up on Saturday. It was like a fairy land. With the gorgeous blue skies. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAFuqbfr6V6EeT76bxJcH8J1-XRErBDT1dGxXVNxn1yvx4eDD9jbDRew6gM9s-lSkBQk4CPVYxMpNprkAq2Bq-hVuUDZDYRHUgz6x2InMl_LqNFneoe4L72NFv-7BkHFgxcipc6tnjjZk/s1600-h/snow+in+the+trees+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAFuqbfr6V6EeT76bxJcH8J1-XRErBDT1dGxXVNxn1yvx4eDD9jbDRew6gM9s-lSkBQk4CPVYxMpNprkAq2Bq-hVuUDZDYRHUgz6x2InMl_LqNFneoe4L72NFv-7BkHFgxcipc6tnjjZk/s640/snow+in+the+trees+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
And the sun reflecting off all the snow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY751hY_DXSpX8AUC1-sl67-K_8eOcvRaJB-JCbkSrQwt-6m-ov0EwXhv9O7tbmj9tHNHDPA67eQF02CYJVnSvgwcKHYQIlQMpTELsDQnvesYvLtTGR67fs8MmfdQbT0SugDLyMWw1BndM/s1600-h/Front+yard+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY751hY_DXSpX8AUC1-sl67-K_8eOcvRaJB-JCbkSrQwt-6m-ov0EwXhv9O7tbmj9tHNHDPA67eQF02CYJVnSvgwcKHYQIlQMpTELsDQnvesYvLtTGR67fs8MmfdQbT0SugDLyMWw1BndM/s640/Front+yard+(Large).jpg" width="428" /></a> <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KMlAFBhNyDKQfb-YbQHNMGF2QUJZ9v0bo_h0wj6tgTRPQdBQpHmVvUsJ-AoIzjq_KeEHK7u4qmqRvtJED-JzfubbDhqgCnSyr9eEwyQbR7joRPohHyYSrxEIugiNgylwVNcntXGKeOXv/s1600-h/backyard+snow+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KMlAFBhNyDKQfb-YbQHNMGF2QUJZ9v0bo_h0wj6tgTRPQdBQpHmVvUsJ-AoIzjq_KeEHK7u4qmqRvtJED-JzfubbDhqgCnSyr9eEwyQbR7joRPohHyYSrxEIugiNgylwVNcntXGKeOXv/s640/backyard+snow+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a>Magical.<br />
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Then. Less than 24 hours after it started. It was practically gone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wmuKSA49v84KeRjgexhCE1cPtTCdRdfqd5K8xUW2HzoRuCibt4h9v3eem006L0bUmyR_-690w6E1FVKMacSG9i8Pzl3j7mgA_D0_LO-SOsJnRvOa8QL4sMi2y7OcqRTpbFwU6QBV7Amq/s1600-h/melting+snow+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wmuKSA49v84KeRjgexhCE1cPtTCdRdfqd5K8xUW2HzoRuCibt4h9v3eem006L0bUmyR_-690w6E1FVKMacSG9i8Pzl3j7mgA_D0_LO-SOsJnRvOa8QL4sMi2y7OcqRTpbFwU6QBV7Amq/s640/melting+snow+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
So...what about you? How much snow have you had this year? Do you like the snow or are you pining for summer?<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" />Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-12837293736086204602010-02-04T22:20:00.000-05:002010-02-04T22:20:32.547-05:00Playing with PhotoshopI started this <a href="http://365dropsofsunshine.blogspot.com/">other blog</a>. It's for Project 365. With the idea that you take a photo a day. More often than not. I get to the end of the day without a photo. And not much of an idea for what might be interesting to post. And then I thought I might use it as a spot to play with the actions that I downloaded for photoshop. Yes. I have photoshop. But I have absolutely no idea as to how to use it. There is not a button to push that says "Make this brighter." Or "get rid of the blur." Or even "make it pretty." How I wish there were buttons like these.<br />
<br />
One of the buttons that I really wish I had was "make the ______ part in this black and white picture colorized." I think that with as much as photoshop costs, it should just know where the flower or fountain or bird is in the picture. And if I want the black and white picture to have a pop of color. It should just know how to do it.<br />
<br />
Photoshop through osmosis. That is what I really want. Sigh. Unfortunately. It does not exist. But. I did find a <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/mono-with-a-dash-of-colour-photoshop-cs2-tutorial">fabulous tutorial</a>. And look at what I created today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2krQVTqvOgqptRjtoWNGuhB4rnggNThA9r_OlfoBQ6T2Xtxm8fChL7sHtluHT2DbKJBR9N1MzeNXR7BnpQPUPF5qKTcQOlod1KKO-EO8Le2E9ZZ6ey2I91xmmYVRM8fv6cVE_ySfCB5z/s1600-h/foxglove+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2krQVTqvOgqptRjtoWNGuhB4rnggNThA9r_OlfoBQ6T2Xtxm8fChL7sHtluHT2DbKJBR9N1MzeNXR7BnpQPUPF5qKTcQOlod1KKO-EO8Le2E9ZZ6ey2I91xmmYVRM8fv6cVE_ySfCB5z/s640/foxglove+(Large).jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l5lK4pEJbW5SC8O-SihNMlu_6Mg0dI7rdw2enRMMPSFvDz848NJQ5fLPLeYb21TcUIbIWKztQFZS760a1iIMdbcDv9M1cHyW3jM3KWR-UjVVk1X8UWDw-BaymddxvQlCGy1LKK1oLr6J/s1600-h/Madalyn's+umbrella+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l5lK4pEJbW5SC8O-SihNMlu_6Mg0dI7rdw2enRMMPSFvDz848NJQ5fLPLeYb21TcUIbIWKztQFZS760a1iIMdbcDv9M1cHyW3jM3KWR-UjVVk1X8UWDw-BaymddxvQlCGy1LKK1oLr6J/s640/Madalyn's+umbrella+(Large).jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYx5roY7ZFmdOyDyJ6eazM5Zjj6uUA_SFSwOCd69sKpwLkrEsTGephNuxFP6CzeOGqF3wjQEPGIkGJxyngUN9ouZ-Kz8NdCee9Mk2hkszjVt_bTi_hxmXHtK0I6q84h3IouebhCB5RWvd/s1600-h/fountain+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYx5roY7ZFmdOyDyJ6eazM5Zjj6uUA_SFSwOCd69sKpwLkrEsTGephNuxFP6CzeOGqF3wjQEPGIkGJxyngUN9ouZ-Kz8NdCee9Mk2hkszjVt_bTi_hxmXHtK0I6q84h3IouebhCB5RWvd/s640/fountain+(Large).jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeCSxxYLHElUCl_lTIvRUFUZ0TFZPK6C_yoteeQ7-74oQQMOGBeyPYRv7FYkISy0lGheRKgi8Tl2H6EGvokI2Bk8UBI0CinkV8xYuQjUE3_ld3VYP6qw8HDvWRBIeYWY7Jl9ufhwM1jqi/s1600-h/pollen+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeCSxxYLHElUCl_lTIvRUFUZ0TFZPK6C_yoteeQ7-74oQQMOGBeyPYRv7FYkISy0lGheRKgi8Tl2H6EGvokI2Bk8UBI0CinkV8xYuQjUE3_ld3VYP6qw8HDvWRBIeYWY7Jl9ufhwM1jqi/s640/pollen+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd5Cn7aOisC5bzNpnKF8CeHTuvIVV6-ouco99w7WutzrSkgnl_qx6dls5pzDSgkTARQaSMCFX7axh21FbU29rp57Z770cWpwktF6O1uX738PyM1qRoxKQyDjoJ3vqEm7Hq6b1O7r3nAUn/s1600-h/Purple+berries+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd5Cn7aOisC5bzNpnKF8CeHTuvIVV6-ouco99w7WutzrSkgnl_qx6dls5pzDSgkTARQaSMCFX7axh21FbU29rp57Z770cWpwktF6O1uX738PyM1qRoxKQyDjoJ3vqEm7Hq6b1O7r3nAUn/s640/Purple+berries+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFKnrJeQASfShd9zR66Vz_pyZUMkbixd4U_qmQPdogOXABvo2L2iO7Jzgnv0iPmfWJnqU-SBJAXzFYvV52h-zFeg6ZGt-NNif8WSsoaL8OxhQKV3kllCR-MDSrce4BFa3VPUSDXyaZHte/s1600-h/bw+colored+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFKnrJeQASfShd9zR66Vz_pyZUMkbixd4U_qmQPdogOXABvo2L2iO7Jzgnv0iPmfWJnqU-SBJAXzFYvV52h-zFeg6ZGt-NNif8WSsoaL8OxhQKV3kllCR-MDSrce4BFa3VPUSDXyaZHte/s640/bw+colored+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3gm-aDY_5NeLeclQ-YXC7PWtUUg1N-YzZ4TLnM6HZuAM66zF5nvlOhgovfl1cCIxn515HRAMQ8fr3S3BIKk5mpbBQY9opcWkcg6rglLNZF1mGx9FEGUqdz09AKHR5pPZesjXZ1zIJeLR/s1600-h/blue+hair+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3gm-aDY_5NeLeclQ-YXC7PWtUUg1N-YzZ4TLnM6HZuAM66zF5nvlOhgovfl1cCIxn515HRAMQ8fr3S3BIKk5mpbBQY9opcWkcg6rglLNZF1mGx9FEGUqdz09AKHR5pPZesjXZ1zIJeLR/s640/blue+hair+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" />Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-91246956694286086932010-02-02T14:39:00.000-05:002010-02-02T17:43:41.634-05:00Vegas, baby part V<p>Do you think that I will ever get to the end of this trip? I mean. We went in October. I first started telling you about it in November. Maybe we'll finish in February. And then I'll have to start telling you about the Disney trip we took last September. Did I see you moving to the edge of your seat? Oh. The anticipation.<br /><br />So. We left off with our visit to the Mirage. And the tigers. And the volcano. And our trip back to our room on the 13th floor.<br /><br />I was very excited when we got up Friday morning. Cause today we were movin' on up. Leaving behind the regulation hotel room. The perfume soaked hallway. And the 13th floor. All for the fan-cee digs of the Venetian.<br /><br />We got packed up. Checked out. And grabbed a cab. Cause I was surely not schlepping my luggage on the deuce. And when we arrived. <a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiH7cWrNfpVHH4Uqa6Aj-GFlJTH-ijpmHEGyC5FS5VaAkX_o5rFWpMWYce0gRrmtGGHJ5B-YMBFfmOQD3nkx_XXbe1xfQGbVLEq_vudX8RG4Ma0kGp-WIAIXkg3LqVEDugHGzcsE3KjFJ/s1600-h/Michael+at+Venetian+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiH7cWrNfpVHH4Uqa6Aj-GFlJTH-ijpmHEGyC5FS5VaAkX_o5rFWpMWYce0gRrmtGGHJ5B-YMBFfmOQD3nkx_XXbe1xfQGbVLEq_vudX8RG4Ma0kGp-WIAIXkg3LqVEDugHGzcsE3KjFJ/s640/Michael+at+Venetian+(Large).jpg" width="428" height="640" kt="true" /></a></p><p>Oh my. What a difference. I quickly got through the check-in and we headed up to our new room.<br /><br />We had a suite. With a very comfy bed. And a step down to a living area. Complete with gold sectional couch. We had a couch just like this in the '70s. Who knew they'd make a come back? And the blinds. We had remote control blinds. Flat screen tvs. Including one in the bathroom.<a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TGrI4QcJNzyz9Xik7mTYOh3EU4cet3m8HtRB77-5SC5SPj9lhcWJVLRoj65wWWbVC6bwAw-AqwGbuOIoRpzkGaePF8fjxahhNf27QlaM9LXOxAjgUYHCAd96U3r88yjUANzeaVW-w0fD/s1600-h/Las+Vegas+(1)+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TGrI4QcJNzyz9Xik7mTYOh3EU4cet3m8HtRB77-5SC5SPj9lhcWJVLRoj65wWWbVC6bwAw-AqwGbuOIoRpzkGaePF8fjxahhNf27QlaM9LXOxAjgUYHCAd96U3r88yjUANzeaVW-w0fD/s640/Las+Vegas+(1)+(Large).jpg" width="640" height="428" kt="true" /></a><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN14X4gKhhi-cEC8fIhkkha9otppXm3czpkFaNTVhVq29pAEyeAT3-5mLq57j17jwYSDocSfU3Q9Dc0M6ivm86sh4jb3TGakURg2ukWsJAP3Lc5An2cBOGSYz_EmU1tuUmnXoSiLoXLfGN/s1600-h/Las+Vegas+(2)+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN14X4gKhhi-cEC8fIhkkha9otppXm3czpkFaNTVhVq29pAEyeAT3-5mLq57j17jwYSDocSfU3Q9Dc0M6ivm86sh4jb3TGakURg2ukWsJAP3Lc5An2cBOGSYz_EmU1tuUmnXoSiLoXLfGN/s640/Las+Vegas+(2)+(Large).jpg" width="640" height="428" kt="true" /></a><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAth5JURFNFPT2q0V9ZZTrqkcfQTN0GVaMVPbg6Fpj15jCe6ok4yLtzxzSpB6hVnuuAlgLD-wOVb8fdQ-SA7hOX4FlNrqLhfn2X9LTcMsl57JTTDiM6JPkZ4dSoMIphYIgZKAztkC3tfn7/s1600-h/Las+Vegas+(3)+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAth5JURFNFPT2q0V9ZZTrqkcfQTN0GVaMVPbg6Fpj15jCe6ok4yLtzxzSpB6hVnuuAlgLD-wOVb8fdQ-SA7hOX4FlNrqLhfn2X9LTcMsl57JTTDiM6JPkZ4dSoMIphYIgZKAztkC3tfn7/s640/Las+Vegas+(3)+(Large).jpg" width="640" height="428" kt="true" /></a><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHpRHk3WKgqMK4TBVb2UggMv5LS1JTqOdHA69ULgaYOYteV3Hic0slS1erufm-jjz7lgyn-sxoXms4x9CoYBYDrHHkvqgH3KFYHDOfluYwhRQ2bBW9iOpStnBZrbUUsmiqp3aZEONbjNj/s1600-h/Las+Vegas+(4)+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHpRHk3WKgqMK4TBVb2UggMv5LS1JTqOdHA69ULgaYOYteV3Hic0slS1erufm-jjz7lgyn-sxoXms4x9CoYBYDrHHkvqgH3KFYHDOfluYwhRQ2bBW9iOpStnBZrbUUsmiqp3aZEONbjNj/s640/Las+Vegas+(4)+(Large).jpg" width="640" height="428" kt="true" /></a><br /><br />After we got somewhat situated, I called <a href="http://www.jaromandelena.com/">Elena</a>, and arranged to meet for lunch. Elena and her husband Jarom had flown in for the weekend just to meet me. Sort of. I mean the whole reason we went to Vegas was for the SITS blog conference. Which starts this evening. And Elena came for the party. And mostly to meet me. Maybe.<br /><br />As we head downstairs, Michael asks me "Did you pack my shirts that were in the closet at the Monte Carlo?" Yep. He really asked me that. Uh. No. I packed my stuff. He packed his stuff. Or most of it anyway. So instead of helping me to find Elena, he heads back to the room to see if the Monte Carlo might still have his shirts.<br /><br />Elena and I had decided to meet in the lobby. The lobby is gorgeous. There is this amazing domed ceiling. <a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvCjLcep96yW7iHLdaZRoRlDlRLFX0VghYsejidj2FBTPOvEUE4JntffXmW209UyBPllPfBC2ZtnsadPjBVIdWChr04OgfrV0b44RRhmbVX6umkhh4Lgfu4B0CR3EUc9KpD-R0VWjzhL8/s1600-h/Venetian+Dome+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvCjLcep96yW7iHLdaZRoRlDlRLFX0VghYsejidj2FBTPOvEUE4JntffXmW209UyBPllPfBC2ZtnsadPjBVIdWChr04OgfrV0b44RRhmbVX6umkhh4Lgfu4B0CR3EUc9KpD-R0VWjzhL8/s640/Venetian+Dome+(Large).jpg" width="640" height="428" kt="true" /></a></p><p>And this.</p><p><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3L4X1FfYBTcfnAENX0RwaTDhJf51ktOwTtNInUBaLYQmAfTx0HsZdkQVjq2ODge31yUaydafcPNK-v6odt71-y_FeN7gggHA2JDcj5zGzrKEep7V2mMV-ytKTMOZ_AinGX-9o-Sqows8/s1600-h/Venetian+hallway+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3L4X1FfYBTcfnAENX0RwaTDhJf51ktOwTtNInUBaLYQmAfTx0HsZdkQVjq2ODge31yUaydafcPNK-v6odt71-y_FeN7gggHA2JDcj5zGzrKEep7V2mMV-ytKTMOZ_AinGX-9o-Sqows8/s640/Venetian+hallway+(Large).jpg" width="428" height="640" kt="true" /></a></p><p>Um. Hallway? Between the lobby and the casino. Would you call it a hall? So. I am waiting. And waiting. Then Elena calls. They cannot figure out how to get to the lobby. It truly is a conspiracy. The casinos want you to stay in the casino. Not marking the exits. Or making you go the long way around just keeps you there. May as well have another drink and another quarter in the slots.<br /><br />Anyway. After a few calls, we finally find each other. And it's like falling back into a regular conversation. In fact, I have felt like that with everyone I have met through blogging. Just picking up where we left off. We had a great afternoon. Eating. Talking. And lots of laughing.<a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZtlMCmBV5Tc-7S53Nr3AMK2Oyg7v8UJn_3qITJVXMF2Q9flQtxBQR-f1hH2vc3QomkCTEAi3uTpXiNb4rC6AZDbxVLHxkvI11LdbZlnsUUzysTh1ah-wFccyEy2JN6poB9UxhYTbuN_U/s1600-h/Kat+and+Elena+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZtlMCmBV5Tc-7S53Nr3AMK2Oyg7v8UJn_3qITJVXMF2Q9flQtxBQR-f1hH2vc3QomkCTEAi3uTpXiNb4rC6AZDbxVLHxkvI11LdbZlnsUUzysTh1ah-wFccyEy2JN6poB9UxhYTbuN_U/s640/Kat+and+Elena+(Large).jpg" width="640" height="428" kt="true" /></a></p><p>And we finally parted when Jarom had to go satisfy a need for chocolate. And I had to go get ready for the SITS conference...<br /><br />So...what about you? Have you met people through blogging? Would you go to a blog conference? </p><p>Catch up on the trip:</p><p>our <a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegas-baby-part-i.html">first night </a>with the Bellagio fountains</p><p><a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegas-babypart-ii.html">walking the strip</a></p><p>visiting <a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegas-baby-part-iii.html">Hoover Dam</a></p><p>More <a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/12/vegas-baby-part-iv.html">schlepping the strip </a>and the Mirage<br /><br /><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /> </p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-75504836607668391872010-02-01T10:32:00.002-05:002010-02-01T13:43:54.024-05:00If only I had curly hair<p>Did you ever perm your hair?<br /><br />What about put it in those foam pink rollers overnight?<br /><br />All in that quest for curly hair.<br /><br />I had straight hair. There might have been a slight wave to it. It had a bump. One. I didn't count that as a wave. It was a bump. And then all of that changed after children. When all of a sudden I got curly hair.<br /><br />But now. Right now. Madalyn is lamenting her lack of curls. And my telling her to wait till she has children is really not making it all kopacetic. So. For Christmas. I got her some rollers. Who knew this would be one of her favorite gifts?<br /><br />So she took a shower. And I sectioned off her hair. And rolled it up.</p><p><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebrcWHA-jbflPdnZqEMMe6FPudveakyI8ESSv6KkvshcIgoRYxzykN8uRPmF5jvOPsFtGqc4divlBujhDxR1v3nGj1_R9C22cPPy_qiI35TodVUuxTkmNP8ZkEAetyoNJ4Xk31qbujwEM/s1600-h/in+rollers+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebrcWHA-jbflPdnZqEMMe6FPudveakyI8ESSv6KkvshcIgoRYxzykN8uRPmF5jvOPsFtGqc4divlBujhDxR1v3nGj1_R9C22cPPy_qiI35TodVUuxTkmNP8ZkEAetyoNJ4Xk31qbujwEM/s640/in+rollers+(Large).jpg" width="428" height="640" kt="true" /></a><br /><br />She somehow managed to sleep in them. Even though she was very uncomfortable. And complained. A lot. But taking them out. That was so not in Madalyn's plan.<a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu9nRHeh61LwmD_awqXXuWGbglQFwrXbRdB7M5FjIkvsF_QjWowPxbYOlDxAEBZ0e69yJg4NPfJIbFdmOsqSMr4xiWD7KQNJckIw_pmUVXp-djhu9pPXv7pb5n9qkP5AudKbSirHxc2ni/s1600-h/posing+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu9nRHeh61LwmD_awqXXuWGbglQFwrXbRdB7M5FjIkvsF_QjWowPxbYOlDxAEBZ0e69yJg4NPfJIbFdmOsqSMr4xiWD7KQNJckIw_pmUVXp-djhu9pPXv7pb5n9qkP5AudKbSirHxc2ni/s640/posing+(Large).jpg" width="640" height="428" kt="true" /></a><br /><br />By the next morning. Her hair was dry. And her curls were set. Right along with her smile.</p><p><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hbosn5tPRJyeiRkyRNMIp-Xn6_ibuh4O8-y5DHC2I7TLQRvY1aokClGHcyGPeXmgrhgdTPu2YnRU-myTApNL3U40C_NjnhJdQ76JsEeM0kI-PZxceJA35oDnK7QDbMwjWH02GORCwsUa/s1600-h/curls+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hbosn5tPRJyeiRkyRNMIp-Xn6_ibuh4O8-y5DHC2I7TLQRvY1aokClGHcyGPeXmgrhgdTPu2YnRU-myTApNL3U40C_NjnhJdQ76JsEeM0kI-PZxceJA35oDnK7QDbMwjWH02GORCwsUa/s640/curls+(Large).jpg" width="428" height="640" kt="true" /></a> </p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGiVaNHfOQ6dzOrsRGqWrDpRzT4FHy5eR_ilgx4SwL4fnn259XT9nHWmM74Cn9wF8HkauKH8-xHRfC9uuHRxuiZxNSVB2Ti4VlMxwsjyPkG0s5YYbrQsi-Ffrb5FmrDUCRy9wWWZiXlhR/s1600-h/all+curly+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGiVaNHfOQ6dzOrsRGqWrDpRzT4FHy5eR_ilgx4SwL4fnn259XT9nHWmM74Cn9wF8HkauKH8-xHRfC9uuHRxuiZxNSVB2Ti4VlMxwsjyPkG0s5YYbrQsi-Ffrb5FmrDUCRy9wWWZiXlhR/s640/all+curly+(Large).jpg" width="640" height="428" kt="true" /></a></div>So...what about you? Did you want curls (or for it to be straight)? Do you style your childrens' hair?<br /><br /><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" />Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-39553329235314548422010-01-29T10:46:00.005-05:002010-01-29T15:32:19.872-05:00Book Club road trip: Asheville<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My bookclub began about 6 years ago. We are a group of about 10 women. From all walks of life. All ages. With a mutual love of reading. We have different style preferences. And I have been challenged to read lots of books that I would not have typically picked. Books that I am so glad that I read. Others. Well. I am glad I tried.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The bookclub took its first road trip about three years ago when we went to Tybee Island. I have no pictures from that trip. Even though we took a horse drawn carriage tour of Savannah. Contemplated eating at Lady and Sons. And did some great shopping along the squares. I wonder if I just didn't bring my camera.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Last year, we went to Asheville. We had a great time. But I was sworn to secrecy regarding the events of the weekend.<img border="0" height="428" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjle7F5cwoiTUllEiqEYIxXVqQCpOvIrTHfimV6ieXh8bHb3M-ls5CrZG7Qort0H_gmrd_Kd3jp4p7MW4-CxtoC5hFiv8rAT-bLn5HPvnyqHsa3WjALM1BFMIII44ihy9YkLd-QrskYzAHL/s640/cheers+(Large).jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecoOquwVTpN6mVMuthCxiRLm_bYnqPHjh5basWD1WqbjqHWGEeDSKQ1MA_qaCDLpqPAl-EV80Th1u6MSmiAxDhv65VKk96exBRS9vLMP0MYVnoQBYb_IEiVtpiEEMI2JVpAAuvw58ZU_3/s1600-h/laughing+a+lot+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecoOquwVTpN6mVMuthCxiRLm_bYnqPHjh5basWD1WqbjqHWGEeDSKQ1MA_qaCDLpqPAl-EV80Th1u6MSmiAxDhv65VKk96exBRS9vLMP0MYVnoQBYb_IEiVtpiEEMI2JVpAAuvw58ZU_3/s640/laughing+a+lot+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a> The wine might have flowed a little too freely. But you didn't hear that from me. No siree. I can keep a secret.</div><br />
And then last weekend we headed back to Asheville. We went to the spa at the Grove Park Inn.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TUJo5HbNLIOBtNHgWs8cSCk0jHo6i_PMPh0_684IpN0EjB4rKLXHqSBncDLWP6wLxFhmyLDkwDLAJw6Q87FVKq35wILYMzLUWAtYpOzJJkqDJ_xR2cHx-rKzGq_g9MhM_CnKfWPXfFfW/s1600-h/Grove+Park+Inn+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TUJo5HbNLIOBtNHgWs8cSCk0jHo6i_PMPh0_684IpN0EjB4rKLXHqSBncDLWP6wLxFhmyLDkwDLAJw6Q87FVKq35wILYMzLUWAtYpOzJJkqDJ_xR2cHx-rKzGq_g9MhM_CnKfWPXfFfW/s640/Grove+Park+Inn+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
By we I mean not me. I was too cheap for the $200 massage. So I started. And finished my book in the gorgeous lobby. By the ginormous fireplace.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE2LZIil9_pjZHHXMLNj0JIjAluSg2ooqQR3wj3CTbc3h6o7QziUAmXCCiBr023vVadf4v_orLscEcC-tN1VBusHKY1VSTHR0b6Oeb71VoeETJfnNGEa3z-r7MPPVlhLZtCAK9AvzTHmv/s1600-h/Grove+Park+fireplace+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE2LZIil9_pjZHHXMLNj0JIjAluSg2ooqQR3wj3CTbc3h6o7QziUAmXCCiBr023vVadf4v_orLscEcC-tN1VBusHKY1VSTHR0b6Oeb71VoeETJfnNGEa3z-r7MPPVlhLZtCAK9AvzTHmv/s640/Grove+Park+fireplace+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
And thanks to Shannon, we got discount tickets to visit Biltmore estate. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHI8UFJ1_f0juAvkAk6cvxphgbrWU3dXfhoKT0vutiAVlwtSIS4Tqk6XandLHB738N1mWdlkE_aMzaDI4ZhO9OzV8Q0JgLQN9E_Gfm2WQA1E1zGjBgQgHWE1aD5eFcgJTkaziKJxB1eoSc/s1600-h/Grand+Staircase+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHI8UFJ1_f0juAvkAk6cvxphgbrWU3dXfhoKT0vutiAVlwtSIS4Tqk6XandLHB738N1mWdlkE_aMzaDI4ZhO9OzV8Q0JgLQN9E_Gfm2WQA1E1zGjBgQgHWE1aD5eFcgJTkaziKJxB1eoSc/s640/Grand+Staircase+(Large).jpg" width="428" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6mHTlzBE01Z4-DJefIBNwEbVdZmvdMGpMetJ68X4cd8PP-gDuSUYyREf-DS7KUbNU5n-8Yj0PctxHuMhD4mikB0WgajyvUZGo0gXf2mvSXRc-FBQJtJJ3n-x6fqe7zF0QZejVGRD3HYm/s1600-h/Biltmore+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6mHTlzBE01Z4-DJefIBNwEbVdZmvdMGpMetJ68X4cd8PP-gDuSUYyREf-DS7KUbNU5n-8Yj0PctxHuMhD4mikB0WgajyvUZGo0gXf2mvSXRc-FBQJtJJ3n-x6fqe7zF0QZejVGRD3HYm/s640/Biltmore+(Large).jpg" width="428" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0fjDqWRTHTgERikFlnmYRs_ftcmG_dgvbyU6yFjUTV-rvI7hrzJ2aWmu88Q0m18l0xhn41Ptmch0bWvR6DULJdu1C4fIEr1t9sQ3fXjkocUdRWgqtMRriqX0RjmWeJVElKep5D5LRacM/s1600-h/Biltmore2+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0fjDqWRTHTgERikFlnmYRs_ftcmG_dgvbyU6yFjUTV-rvI7hrzJ2aWmu88Q0m18l0xhn41Ptmch0bWvR6DULJdu1C4fIEr1t9sQ3fXjkocUdRWgqtMRriqX0RjmWeJVElKep5D5LRacM/s640/Biltmore2+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HkKxR_NSca9X-b8RbyWWm4vE-Zg-3KzVsAIKpFsGW3Wr6iTNM5TzgNnEuvudolocFfkqdSTbKZg2vlyo6me7ZgI-FIhJtBo9K5G9xi_uuSKF5pwsiNPH5sjlC-ZFoWHoOl2kkk5EV9n3/s1600-h/Bookclub+at+biltmore+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HkKxR_NSca9X-b8RbyWWm4vE-Zg-3KzVsAIKpFsGW3Wr6iTNM5TzgNnEuvudolocFfkqdSTbKZg2vlyo6me7ZgI-FIhJtBo9K5G9xi_uuSKF5pwsiNPH5sjlC-ZFoWHoOl2kkk5EV9n3/s640/Bookclub+at+biltmore+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
I wish I had schooled our picture taker in the above the hips rule so that you could see the house. Rather than those tree trunks I call legs.<br />
<br />
We did a little walking around downtown Asheville. Ate at the <a href="http://www.earlygirleatery.com/">Early Girl</a> restaurant (if you go to Asheville, you need to go here). Did a little shopping. Not too much because the weather was biting cold.<br />
<br />
We played scrabble in teams. Except for one member who we made play without a partner. Because she has all the two letter words from the Scrabble dictionary memorized. Did you know that "Jo" means sweetheart?<br />
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And then the highlight of our weekend was to go back to the Grove Park Inn. To the dueling piano bar - <a href="http://www.groveparkinn.com/Groups/Dining/Elaines_Piano_Bar/">Elaine's</a>.<br />
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<img border="0" height="428" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23bS61qX1q76wDkt378sJ8oKRDO4xbuU_9b1W3tcG3u0v5fdrLF9Krmg2Axtk4HfLFNiY3u3oSGDwfEbVpENG8npDC-WBaEV6u2Q9WOLJD-cj8u1JDvX4ncWB9A9ZlmikqgkT85W4tThv/s640/Elaine's+(Large).jpg" width="640" /><br />
<br />
To be honest. I was not so sure about the idea of a piano bar. I was thinking old music. Show tunes. Songs I had never heard of. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It just wasn't my idea of a fun evening. And now. I must say. I was rather pleasantly surprised. More than pleasantly. It was a great evening. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And I was oh so wrong. They played rockin' music. Everything from mo-town classics. To Billy Joel and Elton John. To country. To Snoop Dog's "Gin and Juice." And the only showtune they played was one our group requested - "Summer Lovin'" from Grease. And they made us sing the girls' parts!</div><br />
And even with all that...we still managed to find time to discuss our book.<br />
<br />
So...what about you? Are you in a book club? What book has been your best discussion (or what do you think would make a great discussion book)? Ever been to a piano bar?<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></div>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-67805935320276313672010-01-28T00:53:00.000-05:002010-01-28T00:53:00.301-05:00A new blog<p>They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flatterly. So, when I saw that <a href="http://nuthousepictures.blogspot.com/">Shannon</a> started a photo blog...I knew that I wanted to start one, too. Our blogs are part of Project 365 which challenges you to take a photo a day. And in typical Kat fashion, I was fashionably late. At least I didn't procrastinate starting until January of 2011. </p><p>When I was setting up the new blog...that is when I somehow managed to destroy the layout here. I think I have penciled in my overplucking a bit. But do come visit me at my new digs -- <a href="http://365dropsofsunshine.blogspot.com/">Drops of Sunshine</a>!</p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-32910149018009610982010-01-27T09:14:00.006-05:002010-01-27T10:30:15.100-05:00Time to celebrateWe had a big accomplishment at our house a few weeks ago. Madalyn got straight As for the first time. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431433240376540194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYwpeuCJhalIUQxZJcjzz7oVcdD0CSGY0vazPrk2_EObygMjfkhKjGwOCBRgRc8eDm3I9zCTFrksHbYUM2zts5o16Leh1ycC8UElY-2C8Zvq5Y4hLeK2kj4TvqiRGewT5jEr8Km5ZDJUH/s400/Honor+Roll+(Large).jpg" border="0" />I was so proud. To reward her efforts, I told her we would take her out to dinner to celebrate and she could choose the restaurant.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><p>My notion of a reward and her notion of a reward are not in the same league. Evidently. To an eight year old. Dinner out with the family is on par with punishment. Or chores. Or a visit to the dentist. However. Madalyn agreed to this outing if she got to bring a friend. You know. So she could have someone to talk to.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431433254621363282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG97MGFOOyHP_OapDycnzVjpk8BYWAfDWYwkflKs4wDO8sgHBdk6XuZ-mzg2JwYgPscdWTEKziIPX3JcnA8n6nJVyvKlpyYICjQFu6bjTQnHhCHLMQoE3ycdAqxyHalijoF5iv-ALhxf0h/s400/Mommy+and+Madalyn+(Large).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431433248638182946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4cCCElUAYk708SVbyxTneoIWGrSCdBNTp1m1smcXXBw3yAe1Zwtjfw246E9sdER-nQWqKd_Cne11qMYD9y_FReU1a8c-1ArebQroFze2RKuyfiUkI4D2dPYdw19yUNo7Tr3YnFFd90Zw/s400/Michael+and+Katie+(Large).jpg" border="0" /> So. Last Sunday we headed out as a family. Plus Madalyn's friend Shannon. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431433346806707378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqMfKezdCX-MY9OU4gfFGxunobicAiD1FQQRya6kkU5Te53gGpPqay4tyjglVm8Ws2VVOnG1t3D55nWdqYBC8AyBJtZSHyW96fUDW83B1erCwAZYKRv3aZZAp9-I45JD_kts3xVORylX4/s400/Shannon+and+Madalyn+(Large).jpg" border="0" />For the big, celebratory meal. And where did we go? When the sky was the limit? Her choice was...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431433232081197058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqqZRASIiMzG2eTHvx0xrVL0Sol1HEuuzCBP2aUTDU7J8iSumKyJD163Imp4F4Dchh1JHWEuzzW1aTdADlNiBUSUvjq83f6HNwWc2jdk321dSrzLR8KNIda0Dil90UMXlc6E7Fa44k8d3/s400/Golden+Corral+(Large).jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Yep. Golden Corral. Where she dined on such delicacies as popcorn shrimp. Rolls. A single bite of baked potato. Mashed potatoes. And dessert. Which was best served on a plate and eaten as soup.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431433247063790178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUS0P0JgnhpEpdxi1noIHmtE0_35Yh2ja4EyI271dNtA83fZDHABD-SIijD62hEbJphnJ90xESpGO1aCWhcZfC2X_K4zrqO6PJUiZEuvr0U14uS0W9IJZXoYu5bnkbF9U9N-GGjjK3h0lU/s400/Madalyn's+soup+(Large).jpg" border="0" />So...what about you? Do you like Golden Corral? Where would you want to celebrate getting straight As? Where would your kids choose to go?</p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p></div></div></div></div></div>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-26664979004575222372010-01-25T19:22:00.006-05:002010-01-25T21:04:49.955-05:00Can we talk about Michelle Obama's eyebrows?<p>I was watching TV last week and an ad came on. It was Michelle Obama. Talking about something. That something? I had no idea. I couldn't. Because I was rather distracted. By her eyebrows. </p><p>What had she done? They are in the middle of her forehead. I had to pause the tv and try to figure it out. Did she have a lift? A little botox? An accident - so she had to draw them on? Were these <strong>fore.head.brows</strong> on purpose? </p><p>I finally figured out that she was appealing for donations to the red cross. And it was rather catty of me to only see the eyebrows rather than the need in Haiti.</p><p>But those forehead feathers were rather distracting. Watch for yourself.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NLd_5LFKPUQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NLd_5LFKPUQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><p>I suppose I should be rather sympathetic. It appears that I overplucked as well. When I accidentally deleted my blog design. And I had to pencil in what you see here. I think that Michelle and I both need a do-over.</p><p>So...what about you? What do you think of Michelle's brows? Do you shape yours? Have you ever overplucked your blog?</p><p></p><p></p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-41703219201482949032010-01-08T20:58:00.000-05:002010-02-15T21:04:44.062-05:00Anatomy of a Georgia SnowfallIt snowed here Thursday night. I suppose though that "snow" is a relative term. We have a dusting of white stuff on the ground. Which makes one wonder why. Why this slight dusting of white has shut our entire city down. Canceled schools in the upper third of the state. And caused a rush on milk, bread and toilet paper from the corner store. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM__Hq2j5QpwokXe3P8-ZH7dyFlOYG-GBsp5pfNyqAONvvusG7LxkYIyDS1PViF8AjynC31rLXpVq7xTRUSTtKTmuzBFgrw_UeoluucguuJwNdcT1U02lvaK8Wtwl8DNB-4Ypv5t_EezY/s1600-h/IMG_1464+%28Large%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424815584808136466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM__Hq2j5QpwokXe3P8-ZH7dyFlOYG-GBsp5pfNyqAONvvusG7LxkYIyDS1PViF8AjynC31rLXpVq7xTRUSTtKTmuzBFgrw_UeoluucguuJwNdcT1U02lvaK8Wtwl8DNB-4Ypv5t_EezY/s400/IMG_1464+%28Large%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The thing is...that dusting...it's not dusty feeling. It's hard. Packed. Crystalized. And impossible to drive on. When we get snow here, our temperatures usually hoover around freezing. Which means that we don't get true snow. But more of a mix. Rain. Sleet. Freezing rain. And maybe a smidge of snow. And then since we are in the south. Our DOT is not equipped to deal with the ice. I watched the news this evening as they showed "them" dealing with an icy hill. It was a dump truck full of sand. With one guy standing on the load. With a shovel. Can you imagine how slow that process is?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxuO8inVnrIPwy85XkonQQnpwYzL74cOA3dgNIKuXfl58_2B7HnJ-P7t-ltxtfVSrY4F07KGrKja6T-P2hs1IC1h0DMosHtJcKJuCql-K86mp_8LDliAjbMUFSv0k7Y9tf7uvlAhJlHhL/s1600-h/IMG_1467+%28Large%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424815887693646658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxuO8inVnrIPwy85XkonQQnpwYzL74cOA3dgNIKuXfl58_2B7HnJ-P7t-ltxtfVSrY4F07KGrKja6T-P2hs1IC1h0DMosHtJcKJuCql-K86mp_8LDliAjbMUFSv0k7Y9tf7uvlAhJlHhL/s400/IMG_1467+%28Large%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our temperatures are not forecasted to be above freezing until Monday. So we are staying here. In the house. Because the ice is on the streets. We are trying to stay warm watching the first 5 seasons of LOST. Admiring Sawyer. Noticing LOTS of details I didn't see the first time around. (I didn't remember Kate's father being in <country-region><place>Iraq</place></COUNTRY-REGION> with Sayid). Watching Ben chew the scenery.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5Z08poUliwQJ1PR124rESj45fllO8UDvm2dPIzdscTZM_QwgltZhSoup9LUD21iAOLUbflMW8ibVsOnf0pHtjdVvPxNmoTFlOoDKbSSE2HhdTsFNNkBbOPs8Dc3XGRSmf_rvBKwz_iUA/s1600-h/IMG_1466+%28Large%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424815881619994722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5Z08poUliwQJ1PR124rESj45fllO8UDvm2dPIzdscTZM_QwgltZhSoup9LUD21iAOLUbflMW8ibVsOnf0pHtjdVvPxNmoTFlOoDKbSSE2HhdTsFNNkBbOPs8Dc3XGRSmf_rvBKwz_iUA/s400/IMG_1466+%28Large%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Oh. Would you like to know why we are TRYING to stay warm? That would be because our heater decided to stop working today. Friday. And they will schedule a service call on Monday. If they can get here from there.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84qj36oHY2LmZuvS26ouBEUPIy6rEtHQAm26aTI_oAipUVHdJBSxMIFAaUebH-Qa41BWLtueWo2aXaPlMm_LHBaZnqCDFaYWNE9KWpwm0Yq91x2xhAp1zoUMllQZD_eeJWblf4Jd01Mxv/s1600-h/IMG_1470+%28Large%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424815893871698322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84qj36oHY2LmZuvS26ouBEUPIy6rEtHQAm26aTI_oAipUVHdJBSxMIFAaUebH-Qa41BWLtueWo2aXaPlMm_LHBaZnqCDFaYWNE9KWpwm0Yq91x2xhAp1zoUMllQZD_eeJWblf4Jd01Mxv/s400/IMG_1470+%28Large%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:';font-size:100%;">So...what about you? What's the temperature at your house? Did you get snow? Enough for your kids to play in? Do you watch LOST?</span><br /><br /><br /><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" />Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-15715010531546969862010-01-07T13:12:00.002-05:002010-01-07T20:13:33.226-05:00Science Fiction and Sawyer and FlashforwardOnce upon a time I would have said that popular fiction was pretty much what I read. But after reading John Brendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," I was sold on the possibility that a non-fiction book could be just as compelling as fiction. Possibly more so. Depending on how the story was told.<br /><br />Once upon a time I would have said that under no circumstances would I read <a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2008/07/thursday-thirteen-which-smutty-book.html">romance novels</a>. But after reading Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander," I completely and totally changed my mind. In fact, I have become quite the fan of romances. Most of them. Well. Any of them.<br /><br />Once upon a time I would have said that I don't like fantasy stories. Once upon a time I would never have ventured into the <a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2008/06/thursday-thirteen-young-adult-novels.html">children's section </a>to browse the books. Books for me to read. For myself. But authors like JK Rowling and Suzanne Collins and Lois Lowry and even Carl Hiaasen have made this my go-to genre. And have you noticed that most of the books being published in this genre are fantasy? Veddy interesting.<br /><br />And once upon a time I would have said that I don't like science fiction. Because it was. Too scienc-y. Too Y chromosom-y. I might still. Sorta. Say this today. I have not completely gone over to the dark side. But there are some books in this genre that are really good. One of them being "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. In fact. I would put that book as one of my all time favorites.<br /><br />And then. Once upon a time. I discovered a science fiction author. One that I think you should try. Maybe even think of him as science fiction lite. And that is Robert J Sawyer.<br /><br />You could start with "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/076532413X/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">Flashforward</a>." Are you watching the TV show? Well. The book is nothing like it. In the novel, there is an event that causes everyone in the world to black out - and see a vision of their future. In the tv show, that future takes place in 6 months. In the book - 20 years. What makes the book so very good is the philosophical angle. Do we control our own destiny? Is the future fixed? Is it malleable?<br /><br />Keeping with philosophy, why not try "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0765322897/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">Calculating God</a>." It is the story of a paleontologist who is visited by an extraterrestrial. Specifically to gather information about mass extinctions that seem to happen not only here on earth - but across the universe - at the same points in time. The alien assert that "the primary goal of modern science is to discover why God has behaved as he has and to determine his methods." The book is mostly cerebral. But it is also touching. Laugh out loud funny. Character driven. Especially as we read the grappling our paleontologist must do as he deals with his athiest beliefs ("If there was a God, there wouldn't be cancer").<br /><br />Or. What about a triology. Where you don't have to wait months for the next one to be published. Don't you just love finding a completed series after the whole thing has been published? You ought to try the "Neanderthal Parallax" (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0765345005/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">Hominids</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0765346753/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">Humans</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/076534906X/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">Hybrids</a>). It tells the story of a parallel earth where the neanderthals are the hominids that are dominant. And somehow a bridge between these worlds opens. There are chasms in the differences. Yet. There is shared "humanity."<br /><br />So...what about you? Do you have a favorite genre? One you never thought you would read? Do you like science fiction?<br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-49782510359604518712010-01-05T10:42:00.001-05:002010-01-06T12:22:38.980-05:00My favorite books of 2009<p>When I started blogging in 2008, I noticed that I did not read nearly as much as I used to. And 2009? Well. I seem to have half fallen off the bloggy bandwagon. I have a dozen posts that I have started. I have lots of post ideas. But. Making them come to fruition. It has not been my strong point. </p><p>So fewer blog posts equals more time to read. I read more than 100 books in '09. Some good. Some stinkers. Some real disappointments. And then there were these. The best books that I read last year:</p><p>1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0307472124/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Road </a>by Cormac McCarthy- On the surface, this story is post-apocalyptic. Some sort of undefined disaster has struck. The landscape has burned. Its colors are bleak. It's cold. The unnamed characters are hungry. And hiding from other survivors. Because those other survivors are not to be trusted. But. That is all surface. At it's heart. It's a story of love. That indefinable love between a parent and a child. When you do whatever it takes to protect them. In the most harrowing of circumstances. It's lyrical. Poetic. And beautiful. Yep. Post apocalyptic. Gut wrenching. And beautiful. (And the movie? I have not seen it. Not really interested. I am not sure who would read this book and say "hey...this would make a great movie...")</p><p>2. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0399155341/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Help </a>- A first novel by Kathryn Stockett...and what an effort it is. Set in 1962 in Mississippi, the novel revolves around several Junior league members and their black maids. But the story gets is umph when one of the women begins applying for editing jobs in New York. She gets some great advice in one of her rejection letters...not that traditional "write what you know" but "write about what makes you uncomfortable." She takes this advice to heart and interviews the maids that clean the houses, cook the meals, raise the children...but women that would never be invited to the table.</p><p>3. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316042676/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">Beautiful Creatures </a>by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I have this certain affinity for young adult novels. But sometimes, they can be hugely disappointing. I read so many this year that had this overarching potential...yet they failed miserably. But this one. This one was different. It had a lot of similarities to others of this genre. Romance. Barriers between the two. Magic. But again. This one was different. It is so well voiced. The characters are so well developed. There is nothing two dimensional about it. And it's original. With it being told in first person. From the hero's point of view.</p><p>4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0843960434/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie </a>by Jennifer Ashley. I know it may be shocking...but I read A LOT of romances. And if you like romances...this one is incredibly well done. With a tortured hero who truly is "mad." A hero that was in an asylum in his youth. But the noises in his head are stilled - at least momentarily - when he finds the love of his life.</p><p>5. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1423119509/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Percy Jackson series </a>by Rick Riordan. I love this series. It is full of action and adventures. Steeped with Greek mythology. But with thoroughly modern twists. Like...the Olympian gods follow the heart of civilization...so the modern Mount Olympus is at the top of the Empire State building. The entrance to the underworld? Naturally...it's Las Vegas.</p><p>6.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670020923/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20"> Everything Matters!</a> by Ron Currie, Jr is a difficult book to describe. It tells the story of a boy who has known since he was in utero when the world would end. If <em>you</em> knew...would you live your life differently? Would anything matter? The book also delves into those little things that matter...and change everything. What I really liked about the book was that...really...for all of us...we are here on this earth for a short time. We don't know exactly when our end will come. But life can be full of unexplicable joy and beauty...where everything does matter.</p><p>7. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060791551/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Space Between Us </a>by Thrity Urmigar. I read this as one of my book club selections. And it is one of the things that I love most about being in that group...they encourage me to read books that I would not normally pick up (like the one I am reading now "On Human Bondage" which is actually quite compelling...so far). And this short novel was one of my favorites of the year. It is about two women. One wealthy. Educated. Priviledged. The other her maid. She is poor. Illiterate. One would think that the divide between these women would be huge. Divided by money. By class. By opportunity. But. They share many of the same experiences. Some they don't even realize that they share. The tale is a haunting and compeling tale of our shared humanity.</p><p>8. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805088415/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate </a>by Jacqueline Kelly. This is not an action book. It is not fast paced. Yet there is adventure. But it is quiet adventure. Observational. And full of changes. Calpurnia is a girl on the cusp. On the verge of womanhood...but not wanting to play the prescribed role. On the verge of a new century with the promise of self-discovery.</p><p>9. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0441017770/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Sookie Stackhouse series </a>by Charlaine Harris. The series is fueled by the notion that someone in Japan invented a synthetic blood. For medical use. But...because of the invention, it allowed vampires to come out of the closet. So to speak. And. Well. If there are vampires. Why wouldn't there be shapeshifters? Werewolves? Fairies? Witches? Maenads? Why indeed. And all of these fantastical creatures become part of the world of Sookie Stackhouse. Bar maid from Bon Temp, Louisiana. An ordinary girl...who just happens to hear the thoughts of everyone around her. So. Is she part of that fantastical world...or not?</p><p>10. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0545101417/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">Catching Fire </a>by Suzanne Collins. After reading "The Hunger Games" last year, I really could not fathom where Collins would take her next story. She took the story in a direction I did not expect. And then left me hanging at the end. Ugh! How much longer till book three?</p><p>So...what about you? What is the best book you have read this year? What is in your to-be-read pile?</p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-80861771687906961822009-12-24T17:28:00.000-05:002009-12-24T17:28:00.565-05:00All I want for ChristmasThe girls were rather difficult to shop for this year. Because their lists were composed of impossibilities. <div><p>Things like dogs. Winning lottery tickets. Baby sisters. So not gonna happen.</p><p>With list like this. One would think that really. And truly. They are lacking for nothing. They have what they need. And they also have what they might want. </p><p>When I took them for their annual visit with Santa. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418637829352820882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUkzs6wEi_dYVl9jDeKAzS9Ao7_KLYMekjN1WLY-nP98nQaNl_yaXenQO72Tc65TD9_UbJyJoCe61PHuXxdhrFxwkfFQww7wcZpyrcREDlkeAIw6mmSS8YlZ1LEGouVcvtkEOLhod01Z0/s400/PS+girls+with+Santa+(Large).jpg" border="0" />Madalyn asked for a dsi. Katie asked for World Peace.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418637826275660738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFmrSj4Dl8EvvL4nNkh2Uk38iW0fQ7aZz2HfU-Q0X_wrtqMWR22F5_K7wtJ4pQ4L3cWUUUBEX0LSQDRWfL8uSm0tHw3tEYm3egsgiFPHisvQeAPGZMZN060_qpBK_r0teYgACzisi10t-/s400/PS+girls+and+santa+and+flips+(Large).jpg" border="0" /></p><p>I hope that Santa brings them an instruction manual on manners. Or living a whine free life. Or maybe one on peaceful siblings. Yep. We are all looking for impossibilities.</p><p>So...what about you? What is Santa bringing you and yours?</p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p></div>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-19406395580981848572009-12-23T09:34:00.003-05:002009-12-23T21:02:57.919-05:00Vegas, Baby part IV<p>Where did we leave off? Like a month ago? We went to Hoover dam on the dam bus. Went to a chocolate factory. I think it's a conspiracy. They do not provide lunch...or even an opportunity to lunch. So. When you get to the chocolate factory...you buy. And buy. And buy some more. Becaues you are so hungry. You rationalize that you are getting chocolate for your children. Your mom. Your best friend. And then when you arrive back at the dam bus you eat someone's chocolate. Not that this happened to me or anything. It just might happen. So if you go to Vegas on the dam bus. Bring a snack.</p><p>We got back to our hotel around 2. Had a yummy meal in the food court. And I decided that my feet had recuperated enough to go and explore more along the strip. Not to walk along the strip. But to schlep over to the bus stop. And ride the 56 miles to the other end of the strip. We got off at the Venetian with absolutely no idea as to what to do next.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407308187916362866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wfMxarKHmNg2YxuiOEiuf-hM7fYq963z2UMsilUIH_2uz7C6HNTK-McBqJoSVRv0vey9mIxSBQ7KTocaNLgqwzhWfd_fWt0Hiwk4Dml0Yun3nzVIEX8-89pc_8i_Rsv3e-jRK0a0u51o/s400/Las+Vegas+(49)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407308174565302482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2gkqn9u1JZIksZmH0TzgpwxLEQHEl95iCrHZKt85Rqq3kGf849v1Bo-MjWlbfUCRbBIE3JshDI3zQlhYqZLd5FHlLvDCuOc2MfHndZWH9Gdy2-IIut1h8jA_Q9_7SgIHc2lM4PoQcVgp/s400/Las+Vegas+(46)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />We admired the outside and the gondolas. And then walked across the street to the Mirage. </p><p>It is an odd thing. When you cross the street. To go from the Venetian side to the Mirage side. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407308195721266290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwCY_e3-W071lfTfXLKQ3dRQcv5MpP7LINEkTH_w-NjXRq891TN2YpwhLCMML9smR0d0w1TPmfgepdGChq0FT35A6vZ0Zh7ie0DWTtFci3gEM28Fnlx7bKCLdR3bsJRyDQJND4m0H9qGX/s400/Las+Vegas+(50)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />Because all of a sudden the temperature drops like 10 degrees. It's cool. And rather refreshing. Considering that we are in Vegas. And it's hot. And we've walked 65 miles just to get across the street. Or maybe it was all a mirage.</p><p>As we walked along, the landscaping is really lush. There are all these coves of waterfalls. And it's very tropical. But tropical with airconditioning. How ever do they do that?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407308551765183666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EBJ4ibNuoLIDn8MPb2KuF4444K5CHWpCiGLoc8wiqX_JKIc76s_nON3_lGQnrZI5IdbeJrNo1aiX6RhmnwbdQ1VH8UEYvInvZY1d_lPkhOUpGCQGqiBmkLLP-FXxHrO-qC9wKYyQV22-/s400/Las+Vegas+(55)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /> We finally got into the hotel and decided to go back to Siegfried and Roy's secret garden. I had kinda gotten confused. I was thinking that you could see the tigers for free. But I was thinking of the lions at the MGM grand (which we never actually got to see). Which are free. Siegfried and Roy's exhibit? Yeah. Free? Not so much. So when we got to the ticket window it was truly a decision of whether or not we'd pay the $16 a person to get in or not. </p><p>And then we decided. Well. I decided. Made the executive decision. That since we walked 24 miles through the hotel and casino back to the Secret Garden...we may as well go on in. And let me tell you. It was worth it. I wasn't so sure at first. Because we got to the dolphin pool first. And it was practically empty. Because they were in the process of refurbishing it. There were two small pools nearby. And there was a lone dolphin hanging out. But as we progressed further back, there was a large pool. With lots of dolphins. Who seemed to be just as curious about the visitors as we were about them.</p><p>They would circle around...eyeballing us.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407309715911208674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yqX_DVQWmMeVHpJNlEHHfsQeRSJ4tbAeajG-t_Plnma1twskPCqcAHnQ593s3FL4lmNQN5NRqWPu57cdNcYCwpcPYLbLDorHW9hXY1yfBodcV72wWV0L5tW2r_0dYQFRkaeNkrtajmOj/s400/Las+Vegas+(140)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407308555502351714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8_n2Oi7eN1tTDwkB1wKhab22AzHF0eVDNhMc9fj-cOnpAH0J8WhvFSTdVCqOfsu3rhvqnxurCgqLrKT1nZnOSmbtEPowgrqHQ8rxGZqsMtXa__zx8X3tIexjCbxWSPk_g3yjE1bLMHvi/s400/Las+Vegas+(63)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />They were close enough to touch. Not that we did. Cause I didn't walk 326 miles to get kicked out.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407309720408147618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cXctW4bSgVMFq-hcNNMg45KA7lhVVpPf56WV_Z-YfvDhr8n8sEWNKdK6Plg7tkL_ErRsVXRdj38SHeETVfxxwO52XUz6LrHFasF70z7QuFJxX0Q58CLu09wMaA_O3WceAD77avFr9tOh/s400/Las+Vegas+(141)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />After gawking at dolphins...we walked further back and found llamas. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407308564030029874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZHTMnCe0puQIGgzb6unTCDw86yb1RPCk8uM0IvCvH47bm94CPC6RRa88uTW5ph0aYEDT8C1BPicHtnpqKxS3atHk3IqUM2cMLgdswink8xbSkz2YkoQuPwAJVuEjYBr0dlaXX4UplXSG/s400/Las+Vegas+(71)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />Or are they alpacas? Leopards. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407308572076427266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFjcII92ObzJRsM5JCgRt84hMsu_9rfqcutbPrQve6u49W7AXNxroPuNfsNX2QdtrCb1fUmibAGSzdcxnUIpyNELS4J9hnSE2YutIIIM5ECFMIHdme9ZWKeIjRhGEaiWQNx6EtvAbmz2k/s400/Las+Vegas+(78)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />Or is it a panther? And white lions. The male lion was just pacing. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407308997472091874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM9TmGfmX9L31vWyRA6Q-jpUmmHDubIJQPthvmd3a7yznBzHbkh_NXq3QpFUx7djxmS0Cr8x58piI-DA3yqCXGkNNrwHcwXl1a8NG0RmeC4J5fgHg4AJO8IRLoVmlHbYzHKnkaRHkZFqU/s400/Las+Vegas+(79)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />And roaring. I think he was ready for dinner. (Either that or he was just having a friendly conversation with the lion around the corner as they called to each other the whole time we were there.) And the female. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407309010750449650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkwuyZSuIDY20qE_L8P-4cGgnhSs-Ra24J0rrqG06k8oFI5TMiIyhVDAduQkb2UawV54lrmzDE0MW-gAuFaKLEtqZnzup2RBD160JmyfHGSZ22TCiUhuZHEpGbfGE6ZY5UDMXMJPToiqI/s400/Las+Vegas+(84)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />Can you not just see the thought bubble? I think she was ready to put a muzzle on those two lions.</p><p>And then there were the infamous white tigers. They were just gorgeous. And again. So close you could touch them. Not that we did. <span style="font-size:78%;">(miles and miles of walking)</span> But they were amazing. They responded to the calls and clicks. And they were so playful. They would take turns playing tag. Chasing each other all around the enclosure. And then falling into a pile of kitties. And then the next tiger would take a turn being "it."<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407309010517396482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXS8A9etQ1MqXuYgmndUzxBLBoTRyGK-PDbg3iNDfsEmr7jRJqdNChpDSdf6PhieQnmWqIyaMJWg8N4R6mVpc7Jnhqepp_qNVfAFYMBUEd81aolzdXAnsiCsfB1x4FiMxTnxuyGLOuBSY/s400/Las+Vegas+(96)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407309353387339602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ1vigOQ71tTiOHABWsus6AjLRWnxAr3NcFQqEnpquvzwjhg09GnUYImfJ04cYsnbi_U0Gfq8-uoHo1_ver3U2HzcD8Ko_7P4smeZ_ywhBJwWMWBeusnr9N5w0GJAdahJ6q4Ozu7IrdcW/s400/Las+Vegas+(106)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407309359159751202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYIWSk9ScsJd1NrBuwbuWslrDC6n4jkd2qlfZpNlIQvJtnN-8_mFEbkTaGL6aNcc8E6BxjJOBBro0wod0QeywabRLXWcT7VirrFWoZ5aqkyUmEueV1YkRjAmRb7HJafpn7hsF5noPxBpz/s400/Las+Vegas+(107)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407309363239033410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fGXZhprjNfXcJbsOjdpa_5p5AuNHtMk0E079o8rvM0OoMPDl5s0WXFBzk-JaQuSEh4fA3Vjf9SH03ZfBOTJKoEly8ztjXXPAvCx7pbbwaszsIFZkq302D3ahUqYztVpfy_e7ycSdGtp4/s400/Las+Vegas+(108)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407309363486820674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjtjOf5lxdFekW_Q6F_EOlZKCovxlrWM5Y0Mf7I8XofryZfwsLYL5hpS4CyPcc4V4Cs6tM2_3GB0XVwmvEyAKg8a8zrpynGDcTUY9Ze-WwEjA7Mqoi5toizgU2OFmK317X1rCRIDXsfAm/s400/Las+Vegas+(114)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />And even when we left (only because they were closing - cause I could have watched them for much longer!) they followed us...perhaps wondering why we weren't going to watch them play anymore!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407309704503845170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Zs3IxmRvi9lE_LZhQ7Yqp56CxgfNN_PVKXAD5YnsQuX5vwT-D14sPeE-TAEYEbkeMUEC7XtAcT7pxtDbFAlnioNXinCyLf_Ip_bfvENM3Lh97p81s9l1bA3wQVcQOTcaJJ2IicEYk7Hu/s400/Las+Vegas+(119)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />We walked out of the secret garden and went back inside the casino in search of a seat of some sort so that I could rest my aching toes. We people watched. Lamented the fact that we could not afford tickets to see "Love." And then realized that there IS a free show at the Mirage. And it was back outside. To the outdoor airconditioning. By the waterfalls. And that is the Mirage volcano. </p><p>I wasn't sure where we should stand because there was more than one big rock area that could be transformed into a volcano. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407310199064928114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlN6YOOEytSBONLjcofxGDC7r9vaYnLFGEgrxHNnJhfWAPv2VVacjxnEws0vAnjqzYw3XjO4t_ljANpWEPr4iNSAhq8p1LtZeDqif7KflEviDf0KwPGZIMMyB3It2O7KXbD-nNWMzAcrDb/s400/Las+Vegas+(144)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />So we stood. Watched the sky get dark. And all strip become blazing with light.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407310195045988402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iumN4Z2bNXAWNhB2hhi9Malapr_exbOa1Ge3aWz-o6aOFRogCJvaRp6jq5wlSbfuUxwZyjWh4QAdX1rydBD9-yFR967Hihb_ekU5Xvi0xM8RYpY6M7f-ye0-MLXrRLvLKIbuuOvV3BI2/s400/Las+Vegas+(143)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />We walked. Trying to find the perfect spot. I am sure that it was no more than 2. Or 7 miles. And we waited some more. </p><p>And then the show began. With jungle type music. Maybe didgeridoo. Maybe they just borrowed the soundtrack from "Survivor." But the volcano was quite cool. With lots of flames. And explosions.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407310411768821026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dF3ot11sx4bJqZtSECmOJSk0h_994CVbbku7PqUQ9fcpqHxQlH_IS0CsjhGez058pFu8QYVTb30QHw6c4HkIGEd0TLv2Phv8csUc1POYth7Eni5XdYKWmp-ynJqes5nRRKKKIiFQ-pZ0/s400/Las+Vegas+(153)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407310199439188530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyp9PFmI4KMnyzbvQxgx35rJSU3hPlg0LAJdhf5AjLSdgGoc93Z-Pz11Dy8tJJLp6UsQmntVHLHTlMqD3tcRwQOzlQw7o_BFyfST0VFxGkPUucJvOXdNv754ZidM79rdGPM_vCU_N8ZApr/s400/Las+Vegas+(146)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407310208330298066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTmM0W8M2HC5VMV50tuKYvn3sKEkVR5A3cjzbUNnOvomjwOfk35_M6-C1MaNSDibApqErOFCvGUj_dF-lKZibVE5iDYcdifr0bC4t3gtiDJ4VMsQ_uxJ1qqsbv-vdgjJ5RoOxS8M_lcG1/s400/Las+Vegas+(152)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407310206436068722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAObIUsAbOQPW9x9x5DDYErXslvtnZeqiLJr8mQ0GUeLh5qTPD_Uj8hbFcIEoY1okdOp6T-3O6cCJABF-sXYgvpD-QjrTy3_lULPO58rAr8xaflv9zOJyZWfzJMPseT75OUECVFGFJwcY/s400/Las+Vegas+(149)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407310411078561618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyp3tk_7WbJlWLoC4JeijvnzvadGY8So0IK7StgqYgNeUqNAUJYDJtoRo-XtPB3AMsvDiQoz81Fa5KjaGEWXnKTDkpwkBrjR58m8y8Xpw5pEUuJp46QWsUIHV7U1FfYYcDzqasG9WNVf5/s400/Las+Vegas+(159)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>And then it all went dark again. We hobbled over to the bus stop. Made our way back to the Monte Carlo. And our last night on the thirteenth floor before we moved on up the street.</p><p>So...what about you? Where is the best place you have been to see animals? Ever been to a volcano - real or otherwise?</p><p>Catch up on our Vegas adventures:</p><p><a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegas-baby-part-i.html">Day 1</a></p><p><a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegas-babypart-ii.html">Day 2</a></p><p><a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegas-baby-part-iii.html">Day 3 part 1</a></p><p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p></p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-32382494920981209992009-12-08T00:06:00.000-05:002009-12-08T00:06:28.711-05:00MinutiaeLaws-a-mercy. Where has the time gone? And I left you at such a cliffhanger in my trip. I mean. I am sure that you have just been hanging. And wondering what on earth we are going to do after our trip to the Hoover Dam. Well. You'll just have to hang on to your hats a bit longer. And I'll fill you in on the flotsam and jetsam and minutiae that fill my day. <div><p>Right before Thanksgiving, my aunt and a bunch of cousins came to visit. We visited. Chatted. Ate lots of PW's brisket. But. I did not take one picture. Not one. I am not sure where I put my brain. Or my camera. </p><p>Ugh. And then there is the car. The car that just this summer turned that 100K mark. The car that is otherwise known as the money pit. It died when we went on our cruise last year. It has had flat tires. Battery issues. Electrical issues. Mental issues. So when the check engine light came on, we once again headed to the dealer. While they rubbed their hands together and praised my American lemon. But this time. I just got the minimum amount of work done to make that light go away. And I promptly drove to the Toyota dealership and traded that sucka in. And now. We have a lovely new Sienna gracing my garage. </p><p>Lizzy spent Thanksgiving with us. We had a great day. With turkey. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412725347340663378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsRBixgqnL4FZBHh2BQvvxX5Rda41xmo5DmpODT5gJUZnnvZyoT_yByvbIF_YZW9LnY-5w8A9pOJAc2LkmIrzal_TO_OAbhshwYtP2yx4zShxk-hwEkK1MO8SWLD3TvrKwBVfrwUczu8x/s400/IMG_1221+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />More recipes from PW. Family. Friends. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412725350871391074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PFDSyLZwhgl0tGYjxaYbny7X8Uy2C0jhzkdMsZ2CB1I2GGSugbXrCko_1PzH-UPuOw_hJ7I1DIahoZwoGMvWhQknT6TtnUEFrJ2IF6A9nC7vwUJ4ucip4O-8dHcDGg49WS7Dc9OBv9U7/s400/IMG_1230+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />And "V." Yes. "V." The original. Oh my goodness. We laughed so hard. And that scene of Diana eating the guinea pig was played over and over again. What? Isn't that how ya'll spent your day?</p><p>What about black Friday. Did you shop? Lizzy and I shopped. And I realized how easy Katie is to buy presents for. And how difficult Madalyn is. Especially when her list includes impossibles. Like her own house. A laptop. And a baby sister. But what is the most difficult is my husband. Who is impossible to buy for. Because he doesn't want anything. I had a stroke of genius last year in getting him reusable shopping bags. But this year I got nothin'. Any ideas? What are ya'll getting your significant others??</p><p>Did you know that if you create a wishlist on Amazon, you could win a $25,000 gift card? Wait. Forget I told you that. </p><p>Speaking of Amazon. Did I tell you that I finally earned money from my blog? Do you see all those book covers there on the left? Well, if you click on those. You will bring up Amazon. You can read more about the book. You can look at other books. Order books. And if you do make a purchase. I get a percentage. A very small percentage. Teeny-tiny. So. After almost 2 years of blogging. I finally earned a $10 gift card.</p><p>Oh. Did you want to know what I bought? I did not buy a Christmas gift. I bought a book. For me. It's rather shocking. I am a library girl. But for this book. I didn't want to wait. I got "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385737947/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Maze Runner</a>" by James Dashner. And wow. What an amazing book. I don't think I have been this riveted to a story since "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0439023483/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Hunger Games</a>." <span style="font-size:78%;">(August 24, 2010 - due date for book three. Not that I am counting.)</span>Have you read either one? </p><p>And speaking of books. I just finished a really good one. "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805088415/ref=nosim/sunshandlemon-20">The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate</a>." It's the story of a girl on the cusp. It's 1899. She is about to enter into a new century. She is about to enter her teen years. Her family is changing. She has an aversion to the female role she is supposed to play. She is trying to figure out who she is. I don't know how to describe except that it was an absolute delight. I wonder if my bookclub would be willing to read it... </p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p></div>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-65130956011451937402009-12-06T21:21:00.001-05:002009-12-07T21:32:37.594-05:00Event Chasing at the Georgia/Georgia Tech game<p></p><p>The day finally arrived. And Michael got to see his alma mater in its ultimate rivalry: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs the Georgia Bulldogs. Tech was favored to win. But. It did not happen. They were plagued by injuries. And the dawgs got bragging rights. For now. </p><p>Go read <a href="http://www.eventchaser.com/2009/12/georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-vs-georgia-bulldogs-football-at-bobby-dodd-stadium-in-atlanta-georgia/">Michael's post </a>over at event chasers. And while you are there...see if you can sign up to be a <a href="http://www.eventchaser.com/correspondent/">chaser</a> too!</p><p><br /><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-35003107689186755472009-11-11T20:46:00.002-05:002009-11-11T22:26:04.889-05:00Vegas, Baby part III<a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegas-baby-part-i.html">Vegas, Day 1</a><br /><a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegas-babypart-ii.html">Vegas, Day 2</a><br /><br />The Dam bus arrives early at the Monte Carlo. Which required me to set an alarm clock. As the alarms of the construction site could not be guaranteed to go off at the correct time. Or again within 9 minutes to constitute a snooze. So we alarmed. Snoozed. Showered. And dressed.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p>As we went down for breakfast. Alarms actually started going off in the hotel. Fire alarms. With flashing strobe lights. It was very loud. But no one seemed concerned. Not the workers in the food court. Or the bosses in the pits. Well. Those security guards that were running. They might have been concerned. Yet no one said "get out!" Or "run for your life!" So we stayed and had breakfast. In the food court. With the sirens. And the strobes.</p><p>We headed out the doors and looked for the sign to the dam bus. </p><p>The drive to the dam is really not that long. It's maybe a 20 minute drive. However. There are two things that slow you down. One is that everyone must go through a security check. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403020056786151810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRIaFOnnUxKXOIDc47FNcs7aaeRS3qfauxC0M9A72XvkBwmRkNrzeuNBjDZlhhJAvTypnc9YuBXZQc2crGGSNqllTRVXBTDf8yqs1G8-0ovAcQQApxvwf6IBgHptjb1C7xxZJg3Jfp9K9/s400/Las+Vegas+(6)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />No commerical vehicles are allowed to cross the dam. When our bus pulled over, an officer from homeland security came aboard so that he could go through all the overhead compartments. </p><p>The other delay is simply traffic. There are lots of people that want to visit the dam. And there are even more people who simply need to pass on by. But they get stuck with all the tourists. And then there are the commercial vehicles. Who simply need to pass on through. They are re-routed about an hour and a half out of their way. At least for a bit longer. As a huge bridge is being built over the canyon and will provide a much more convenient bypass.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403020756896850082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_SuXMXHDYh5OhVoFmDkedkI66anaKhCraamfXkpaIbWWron_7A1M9w4zYWKXTn2GDsuNNenpQz51T3YFmSzY9CUH5Os8pIhsKdO3TRYrIStCOkikH6pxB2VLdsHTXQITT2Zj1MotQjrT/s400/Las+Vegas+(19)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403021144183023906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNp3FFm9SSYuauFeJKDwkQPiD_UHXl6crUQEtmBBsCq73f_T9x4LMu3dL-sBFMY8DFSFij-ggX1YEfxMhBMwKUu4N0yMmLCyQ6b-kduxt2m6tgxI4_hHCJ8JkQk7A2YuEm8DW9FLZiOfQ/s400/Las+Vegas+(30)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />However. That bridge. That bypass. Is about 2 years behind schedule. And part of it blew over this year. More work is a good idea.</p><p>So...our bus parked. And sent us on our merry way to yet another line. Another security check point. X-rays. Metal detectors. Body cavity search. And we were in like Flynn. To yet another line. This time to see a dam short film. Short dam film? It was dam fascinating. </p><p>Next? You guessed it. Another line. This time to an elevator. Into the bowels of the dam. We rode down to a spot beneath the dam to see the original tunnels <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403020058605946098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfct9S2R90DuB4jahr2L6FBmnF8qLVMjIQm60b_9lX8y_Vkej9YGhgE9xHwRHoXyvIh_1Izr8HxW2eixokXgfCGfxdL4E6CuUldV31dy4bgzKa1e2alpWT4yK3kEKV43Nx4xeVkzAhIJnZ/s400/Las+Vegas+(13)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />that were built to divert the river during construction.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403020064140684562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8fMDOmfCKAAzvxcKOx7Ifnh_m7ESaiN6LPPXH0U6YFN6Q4X4TxegYdd0CxveggRIqQd68CfjZKZ7zufFd-UQQ7eQoySMVFrZj-gm7n69aZ6IhFU3mgVQLkujePsmbnB3z3LXTF6RQ8mi/s400/Las+Vegas+(14)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /></p><p>(See the dam in the diagram above? And the "pipes": that look golden, then gray, then blue? The pipes at the top...there is a line that goes vertically through the diagram? We are at the intersection of the gray pipe and the line at the top. Dam clear, huh? If only I knew photoshop and could write on my picture with an X and say "we are here")</p><p>Next we headed back up. This time to see how the water is used to turn turbines so that they can harvest electricity. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403020071919327810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsMtUf4jX8oX1TQk_nu0VT9r54At_G34Qn1llMa01ELK2ieZ_l6koKHB5WL63SdGS3T2YA51VqbcB9MeVKO0eCVm0aSlYoglaj_r8S6tOCmUwxqCRr3T13uA6AtgA-V0JVpovDCgri-s-/s400/Las+Vegas+(15)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />Electricity is the bonus in this project. And makes it so that the dam can operate as a non-profit.</p><p>Finally we headed up to the top and the observation platform. It really is a sight to see. Amazing. And so large that I could not capture it all in my lense.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403021138449633650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtE6Fw6-iMrx2NUiALtekZAdbrqZmImysO17_avE9JDbu2PLLJTMJYuA-AAW8_sgVNlbNuF1z8GxcDOELt_LkQ9u6UHp6Ft2FlXJpfKVDT7ogjIy8LFPNGfkBU90iwmQom7aKFwcZOofSk/s400/Las+Vegas+(29)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403021378646447746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLPqpPLk5Eif0lTfWe2zxzJBLpTRwBSmA_iBeo-J9jOeSW-QeKb0cgeZQq4ehSWo8HzwXUmKUAOINxSVizKD2s8ddcAC3_5Hv54A64cC8e_Jm-HeAid6uHUtTRB54OTv2oZDTUMN9TXTK/s400/Las+Vegas+(32)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403021134417388642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6n86QcExEkYE5TGtEb2NCQyOeiLbxhaJRnC9RQKrq35cKzFHp8-IiBGfaw6APGBgDSqGt5zXlXpr3nnpA8f3rf6xDe3OztxalyVn8ewasg-5zMkm2o46YvOZQNDOZId-7LknN_YkVOYd/s400/Las+Vegas+(23)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403021125982271794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4OM5JRh8rYpPra1V3M35dC3XiSKw0pixcZC7K8A20XUA6_oxbVciVkFR89LwabSxQzVQJP5jE2Vyj-73IrPi3_zsSIIyXOblCLLDUEOLqxYhIecPF-wfkas6ldWWJcj95iqQRJdpSKSg/s400/Las+Vegas+(21)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403020753550279618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYn7597aXsDP1gGbrVX4MIHrsurcHq_2PQiop0upZKydxdVAo_zXnm0BNnKAFGAk3oyhWNCR7O-08dbvM8zYQMTNXIjT_fiXQltYgdZBp8SwYFpp0kV0WI0OSTcE9Jufh8ntR71zjiadkc/s400/Las+Vegas+(17)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403021134439911170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb1SKmHc-RR5pTvCKRaB0VJSu0ZWkWVBbiRLgqU8GG2K5bnHt1lXssmZ6c1lFrVsZntk8Jmk94aryFjhQh-4vnpjUTY9uUrqpTbYDbsW6Pz_USxlF_qRiwIYrN8mWlqICJDN9g2NLbwwI/s400/Las+Vegas+(25)+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />And now that I look at it. I realize that we never had the chance to actually walk across the bridge. Or rub the toes of the winged statues. Sigh. Next time.</p><p>In the gift shop we found some very exciting souvenirs for the girls. Dam placemats!</p><p>And then we were off to the next part of our three hour tour. The Ethel M. chocolate factory. Chocolate samples for lunch sounded like a splendid idea. And going to a chocolate factory at lunch time. When you are starving. Dam brilliant marketing plan. </p><p>So...what about you? What US landmark would you like to visit? What is your favorite chocolate?</p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-7235155024348493792009-11-07T08:33:00.002-05:002009-11-07T08:36:36.949-05:00Weekend Whimsies<p>Enough about me....let's talk about you...</p><p>rain or snow?</p><p>apples or oranges?</p><p>Crayons or colored pencils?</p><p>Favorite John Hughes' movie?</p><p>scented or unscented?</p><p>What toppings do you put on your burger?</p><p>gift bag or gift wrap?</p><p>print or cursive?</p><p>corn chips or potato chips?</p><p>Favorite soup?</p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1692904496256051846.post-58507327318108446282009-11-05T20:58:00.002-05:002009-11-05T22:22:29.056-05:00Vegas, Baby...part II<a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegas-baby-part-i.html">Vegas: Day 1</a><br /><br />My body was still on Eastern time when it woke up this morning to an ungodly Vegas hour. But the construction workers were at it full force. And there were half a dozen alarms. Car alarms? Sirens? Fire alarms? Going off. I opened the curtains to see my view. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400661437119672018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XzGbGIlo3hd50hcgzA8juco4l_bqE94plZNiDwJilZlwu636N61aADJBPteBz-qbnp7sWN1Au6e3hdRAUMYJY_x97-_IaEf15sFoKS54FA2JRK1vqI8zHheKVDthoq_OqVpeHDJ5e9ox/s400/IMG_0858+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />The Monte Carlo has a pretty impressive pool area. You cannot see it all from this photo. But there is a hot tub. A large lounging pool. The lazy river you can see. And that large pool by the river? That is a wave pool. A wave pool. At <em>my</em> hotel. But as I watched. I noticed the palm trees swaying in the steady breeze. Then those palm trees bent. And bent. As the breeze changed to a gust. Note to self: wear jeans today.<br /><br />Just beyond the pool was the construction of the city center. All those late nights are paying off and the construction looks about done. The monorail pad looks like something out of a Star Wars movie.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400661437625235618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx96udMqluZ3LPHYpVAockCuVHG0vHCFbsYe0Pzo00HjUyg_LpQuk0UOxTZjdL8soprWzQzsDFv-aLe_b4uABJkilgfJGgQZJCBf8EtL_b7DX6rZmFvCp444hPR3DDmsR9USuSdxip8PK/s400/IMG_0860+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /> <br /><br />I woke up Michael. I had an errand for him to run. I sent him off to the half price ticket booth to see what we might do today. While sending small prayers to the gods of Vegas that Cirque tickets might be in our future. My chore was to figure out how we could meander the strip without walking too much. One of the guide books suggested using the bus. Specifically the Deuce. A double decker bus that runs up and down the strip. 24 hours a day. I got online to figure out where the stops are located. And it says "stops at virtually all the hotels on the strip." Cool. That says minimal walking to me!<br /><br />My next chore was to go down and buy an excursion to Hoover Dam. And lament over the fact that the Grand Canyon tour was not in our budget. Or time restraints. <br /><br />I went back to the room to wait for Michael and our cirque tickets. Only to discover that most cirque shows are dark on Wednesday nights. And that we were now the proud owners of tickets to see "The Price is Right." Well. If we can't win at slots. Maybe we can win the big showcase. <br /><br />By now, it's getting to be late morning. And I am STARVING. My body says it is early afternoon. And I have not had breakfast. Or lunch. We decided that it was a good time to go to the buffet. Especially since we had buy one get one free coupons. And it was even cheaper because we went in a few minutes before lunch was being served. So we got the breakfast price. My husband now feels like he has won it big. We started out with a little breakfast. And then moved right into lunch. It was pretty good.<br /><br />Then it was time to finally play some slots. This is all that gambling means to me. Pushing that button. And waiting to see what shows up on the pay line. I found a machine that actually paid if nothing was on the pay line. It was kinda like a do-over. So many times I was so close to the big pay off. Centimeters away. I just knew that the next roll would get me to that jackpot. And actually. When we finally walked out. I hadn't lost any money. I think I was up about ten or twenty dollars. Which was good because Michael had quickly lost all of his allotment.<br /><br />And when I stood up to head out. There was a travesty. My backpack purse. It broke. The strap was no longer attached to the bottom. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400661777359195506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5W1cNWNSofOGEpbl7e1LznB6xNWb_-dhlXTwFJEPz2J7P16doji7F6RNCPfJDOwCb02RSfcw-HzqS1rCh5lnksvk5JKGAjI0UsWSglMmLT1UM_7G2GrzQQxYgFE3D5N-j_66CGZwMRfW6/s400/IMG_0871+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />And I could not carry it like a backpack. I threw it over one shoulder and we headed across the street to catch the Deuce.<br /><br />I am thinking that it is quite easy to spot the tourists on Las Vegas Boulevard. We are all standing around. Gaping. Spinning to see it all. And taking pictures of just about everything. Then again. All of us at this locale are probably tourists. I think the locals don't venture here unless they have to. We made a mental note to come back to the four story M&M store.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400661764659501298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxnZ46Ff-3GvVOA7oIkKdQKhERiKrbYpFDqeHbERDNY_fXQP3BkXjJJLM7f9JLwbDidI3d0Y92HkVu2QifOlRTqBEsSmxoHuAkWYm819mJtGYARLnMUNd8QRNgfafoPUF8qIC2-AaFlGu/s400/IMG_0863+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />We checked out New York, New York. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400661441489805314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4V0JUFf5ap9E2cvPIIXFEOcBdd1UTb_DuEl1CrwAmm6wtwtnyxUUG5d09bNYQBs1D6cJjXhkbyFdmUus1EuEQ6MYfQk1k3qqTt4XPUxZ_8m8adk4qFEgHs5MFhqEQamPXW1-FrRRjkLl/s400/IMG_0861+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />I bet the girls would love to ride that roller coaster. And you can see the other hotels down the strip: NY,NY, The Excalibur, the Luxor is tucked behind, and finally Mandalay Bay. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400661447187111426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbztcEF2zlR6ioIxgdXiK5onKFTAobrxYc-Mk3hM1j_s9TDaUUrvXeedCvDiSrlPlQgzRYhxBxEdaQM6QS4h2FYhmr_UdSSkaq4TlipoUNCnYK6T2ImvW8Ld3k5VAjzi_q1bqzvSMUPlf/s400/IMG_0862+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />It looks like they are so close. But Mandalay Bay is really 47 miles down the road. Or something like that. Damn mirage<br /><br />Oh. And look at what else we saw: <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400661766745919122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRz3gEyHnlFGAJHgYCN89EE68MIdyYyhQ4eb_ZjO9gvsBG5PyAOzLXWTX2_9RG70Nuj9Q7jSoelFPqNRWaPJWMZc3bimR7iBDXpfLOQkMGsWZKnM3C-xjAeEG0irqcVRwdsZkqtasPs9Ee/s400/IMG_0864+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />It was just like being in Atlanta. And it might the only place in town that you can actually buy a coke. When you are craving a coke. And all they have to offer you is Pepsi.<br /><br />Our bus arrived. We were armed with our exact change. And we found a seat. We needed to go to Bally's. Which is between the Paris and the Flamingo. And Bill's Gaming Hall is in there too. Somewhere. So we are riding along. And we pull up in front of the Paris. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400661769854225170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHHuA7bv9hirk5kG7XOIybgy4_gkb3pltvPssAlblHxeqR0wZUOSGOiQVZyuift2Ilo1Gc0sj7lPvXDICzcnBr_F-3jSBUGgzhK_3HxjbcMBPMSDIjQXPje6t4djvCkTjXP4Mw6xo3rBL/s400/IMG_0865+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />Michael suggests we get off here. But. I thought the bus would stop a smidge futher down the street. Right in front of Bally's. Because the website said they stop at all the hotels. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Yeah, yeah. It said "virtually." I chose to ignore that word. Unfortunately.)</span> So we stay on. And we drive on. Right past Bally's. Past Bill's. And right to the edge of the Flamingo. A good 27 miles away from Bally's. Or something like that.<br /><br />So we begin our trek. That I was trying to avoid. Down to the end of the street. Up to the overpass. Over the street. And towards Bally's. Except that I could not figure out how to enter. There is a huge sign to enter the resort. But it says "Bally's Monorail." And I didn't want to go to the monorail. I wanted to go to the Price Is Right theatre. So we walked more. And some more. To the main entrance. Where we quickly discovered that the monorail entrance was what we wanted. Ugh.<br /><br />We went to get in line. And we got one of those cute price tag name tags. And had our picture taken in front of a green screen. Where they inserted the big wheel behind us. You'll just have to use your imagination here. Since I didn't buy it. But. I look sweaty. Windblown. Did I mention sweaty? <br /><br />The show was hysterical. Who knew? Now. This is not the Drew Carey Price is Right. This is the low key version. Again. Who knew that low key exists in Vegas. But it was low key. And hysterical. The host was Todd Newton. Who I have seen on E! And the announcer was David Ruprecht. Who?? The guy that hosted "Supermarket Sweep." Who?? Nevermind. <br /><br />What made the show was all the contestants. (There were 4 contestants called up for each round of bidding...so lots of people got to play. Unfortunately, our names were never called.) There was the woman who was visiting Vegas with her friend. Her friend being the man she has lived with for the past 18 years. Who still hasn't asked her to marry her. Then there was the woman who giggled. Constantly. So much giggling she couldn't even give her bid. And there was the woman who brought her purse up with her to bid. Because she didn't trust the people she came with to look after it. Nor could she recall their names. But she knew she had known them for years.<br /><br />After the show we decided to go and check out Caesar's Palace. And do a little gambling. <span style="font-size:78%;">(The whole time I am thinking about Alan asking "So...did Caesar really live here?")</span> We ambled through the casino. And ambled a little more. And the ambling turned into walking. And we ended up in the forum shops. Which are really cool. The floor is cobblestone. And the ceiling is like the sky. There are fountains. And if you keep going. There is even a fountain of gods. That talk. And while I sat down to listen to the story of Zeus. And Hermes. And Aphrodite. I noticed something.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400661772329268786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U9te5KoMQhodW3VtQajsHgHTW2Gc1Py_0WUkZdfkmnU-_x5NSp161I7h3tTxjSBgUyudaBvOiCPUHmpy6gp3xruVj2RZJpmvS9x1ElvqJ5kqRJW87imWa06WCaP_1WWYo6DihCmJulw0/s400/IMG_0866+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /> <br /><br />Do you see it, too? Over in the corner. No, no, no. The other corner. It's a <a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-favorite-things-brighton.html">Brighton</a> store! And it was calling my name. I found just the thing. A tiny purse. With a ginormous strap. You should have seen me in the store. Trying on all the teeny tiny purses. To see how much I could still fit inside of one. I am not sure how I made the transition from my ginormous <a href="http://sunshineandlemonade.blogspot.com/2009/02/trend-setter-or-unwitting-bandwagon.html">giraffe bag</a> to this tiny thing. But it was done. And we were on our way. Out of the hotel. Because I was sooo not going to amble. Or walk. Or trudge back to the casino.<br /><br />We finally figured out how to get out of the shops. And I amused myself looking at the spiral escalator. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400662427619814018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgObpDA-pEHppSbj7m-QJT4j1iSkdXeVUMe0mPacXaOStThQ_ge0ljzXwRpNK9smjMzHXunsdVZhVuiUrd4V-W4dCP1M0DhcSXKYaiEjwLp0ER-RzrFOHdLMylNGbiNGsoxsScTDyp06Q/s400/IMG_0873+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />Is that redneck that I was amused? Entranced? Enthralled? One cannot possibly be a redneck. AND own a Brighton purse. Right? Right? Hello?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400662441007938530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeoE_Mb19tJl-hOPcq6TYFfyBZljpBJFHH27Jcwfk260Q8p9OXi_SnYa53q2-12dQxgal97TChB7AYbMJv7om-NaMzwwqGg-teBzXu1_HHVCH4AZTW73caP3YTpn7facBAb7oIIb8tqh9/s400/IMG_0882+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400662432964284466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNk3GNt2dRzF7NIjb8fWNh7jJ5u_5ehdjy_tXuULODn3ecUP2xuKlp4G4CXEJHpCRoB3SmJcq06_PHvvtuYo8X7k2KVIdXNfI2TUdKgc2jD1P_gOpiqT-m08Ouv8u5pjWKZt3ePVRa0o4/s400/IMG_0875+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />So we headed out of Caesar's to the Deuce stop. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400662445849218770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPCKSVHCPsQPiWqCFpBnjmyHXUVunEaoHslIXxomg0YV2tBGDXHXzgVPMTsUXy5JNF-gVg3kEGxv4a-SW08UXZYldYJxB4r-XHlXuNQxhvP6ySsmAZlX12akSMC1JFVWI1VeGD88_AEuG/s400/IMG_0884+(Medium).jpg" border="0" />And back to the Monte Carlo. Where we played slots again. Had dinner. And went back up to our cologne soaked hall. On the thirteenth floor. So that we could crash at a decent hour. Because we had to be ready for the Dam bus at 8am.<br /><br />So...what about you? Do you like the Price is Right? Wave Pools? Riding the bus? Brighton purses?<p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg43/sunshineandlemonade/blog%20background%20images/katrinasig.gif" /></p>Keys to the Magic Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634829064005032831noreply@blogger.com15