Viva Las Vegas

So! Time for a Vegas update.

In case you were wondering, we really had a great time. I have a TON of photos, but I'll try to keep them to a minimum on here. The rest I'm sure I'll post on Facebook.

The first day we were there, (Wednesday,) Geoff and I mostly stayed in our hotel (the Stratosphere) which was HUGE. Unfortunately, we were on the opposite side of the building than the pool, so it took like, years to walk across that place, but once we finally got there, it was worth it. The pool was my favorite part of the hotel. On the 8th floor, it was a really big outdoor pool with a bar and fitness room right next to it. We ordered a drink, and sat in the pool, basking in 90 degree weather. Afterwards, we explored downstairs in the Casino, got a bite to eat, and returned to our room to get some rest for Geoff's birthday the next day.

On Thursday, we slept in for 

a bit, and then prepared for a day of walking. We decided to walk the whole strip that day, down to Minus5, the ice bar I mentioned before. As it happens, the Stratosphere is at the top of the strip, and Minus5 is down by Mandalay Bay, which is at the bottom of the strip. Leaving us about 4 miles to walk, IF we walk

ed in a straight line. (Which, as some of you know, is impossible on Las Vegas Blvd.) Out of all the casinos we went into, the Mirage was EASILY our favorite. It was SO incredibly colorful and fantastic... I'm already planning to save money to stay there next time. Another thing to save money for: Love - Cirque du Soleil (the Beatles tribute). Or any Cirque du Soleil show for that matter. Zoomanity looks amazing also. Those first photos of the colorful place is my favorite spot in the Mirage, which was the room dedicated to the Beatles show, "Love". There was a store with all this really fantastic Beatle stuff, and I really wished I could get Maxx a shirt or something, but there was hardly anything there for less than $50. Figures. 

We also went to the MGM Grand and saw the Lion exhibit, where they keep a few of the lions they use for the roaring lions at the beginning of every MGM movie... you know, that lion. Anyway, there was a glass walkway, where you walk "into" the lion pen, protected by glass.. And while we were there, all the lions happened to be sleeping RIGHT over the walkway, on top of where all the people were walking. 

Sleepy, sleepy lions... 

Later down the strip, we found the Coca Cola store, where we proceeded to taste 16 different sodas from around the world. Very interesting... some tasty, some awful.

After an entire afternoon of walking and exploring, we finally made it to Minus5, and had a fantastically unique experience at the ice bar. The ice was so smooth! That was the coolest part for me, I think, since I went around and ran my mittened hands all over the finely crafted structures and statues. The drinks tasted better in glasses made completely of ice than they would have in normal glasses, too! But I definitely see why they limit people to only 3 drinks tops. I only had one, and I felt a little loopy after leaving that chilly room..

We then had to book it back up to the top of the strip for our dinner reservation at the Top of the World restaurant on the 109th floor of the Stratosphere. It was SO much fun getting all dressed up together, and riding the super fast elevator (3 floors a second!) to the top of the tower... I've never been to a fancier restaurant in my life. Nor have I spent so much money on a meal... but it was all quite worth it. We ordered a half bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon for our wine, and then had the 3 course meal for two, which included a beautiful salad, a fat steak, mini sweet flavored onions, asparagus, garlic potatoes, artichoke heart, and some sort of creature that we didn't eat, but I poked at a little. Oh, and then there was dessert, which was some sort of chocolate raspberry mouse thing made in the shape of the Stratosphere tower. Beautiful AND fabulous tasting. 

We had our picture taken up there, but purchasing them was way expensive, and after having just spent a ton of my savings on dinner, I wasn't apt to spend $40 extra dollars on some cheesy photos. (Even though they were pretty cute.) We tried to take a few photos of us together, so these are the closest we could get.. A myspace-esque photo, and a classic camera-pointed-at-mirror shot. Hahah.. oh well. Better than nothing, right? I only wish I'd remembered to bring my camera to the restaurant!

We also went up to the observation deck to view the strip from the top (both outside and inside the building). There, we saw the rides that crazy people go on up there. There are 3. "The Big Shot", which is like Tower of Terror, except on the needle of the Stratosphere, "Insanity", which looks like an egg beater that hangs you over the edge of the building, (Geoff and I were going to go on that one, but ended up wanting to save money,) and then there's the "X-Scream", which I have taken a picture of for mom to freak out over. (It's the one you told me not to go on, Mom...haha.) It looks like a roller coaster, but acts like a see-saw sort of thing. You get pushed up the teeter-totter, 

and then it swings down until it looks like you're going to be shot out into oblivion, straight down onto the strip, but it stops you just in time, as you're hanging down over the edge of the tower. Horrifying, really. I took this picture of it on it's way down to the stopping point. (Which is way below that fence there, by the way.)

After a little rest in the room, we went out to a nightclub at the Mirage called "Jet", since it was Ladies Night, and earlier that day, we received some admission tickets to get us in for free. I also got tickets for being a girl that got me 3 free drinks! It was pretty fun, but I woke up the next morning with blisters all over my poor little feet from doing all that walking in heels, and my legs are still killing me. But all in all, it was worth it. We had a fantastic time, and didn't get into too much trouble, which I'm sure, was to the parents' relief, eh? 

Also, we didn't gamble at all! Which, I must admit, I kind of really wanted to try to play the penny slots just for fun (only a penny for one try, right?) but we didn't have any cash, and didn't want to use the ATMs at the Casinos, since it was like a $4 charge per withdrawl, you know... Oh well. Maybe next time.

Ahhh, I guess that is all the highlights for now.. There are tons of stories to this trip, and I've told all the ones I have photos for, and some that stuck out particularly for us, so I'm going to leave it at this for now. All in all, it was really a lot of fun, and I feel quite refreshed now. Had a lovely time at the Animal Shelter today, and I'm ready for Mayterm class to start on Tuesday!

Love to you all!

Vegas, baby.

So, after sort of avoiding the place for a while, I've finally suckered myself into going to visit Las Vegas. 

I've kind of always stayed away since the only thing appealing about it from afar, to me, is the shiny lights and the shows I can't afford to see. It looks expensive and I have no desire to gamble, so what's the point in going, right?

Well. Things may change.

I was thinking about what to do for Geoff's birthday next week, (the 23rd,) and as much as I wanted to take him to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown L.A. to eat at the rotating restaurant on the roof, I could only afford to pay for either the hotel,

 OR the meal. But not both. (Turns out, they end up being around the same price.) So, upon researching other rotating bars/restaurants, I came across the Stratosphere in Vegas which has both a rotating restaurant (called Top of the World Restaurant) and a rotating lounge (the "Romance Lounge"). The lounge and restaurant sit atop the Stratosphere, over 800 feet above Las Vegas with all glass around it for a panoramic view that should be simply stunning.

A little more research, and I happened to find a fantastic deal on a hotel room actually in the hotel of the Stratosphere (which is located in the middle of the strip too, so it's walking

 distance from everything.) I paid like, a total of $73 for a room for 2 nights. That includes taxes. Impressive, no? Also it gives us free access to the top of the Stratosphere which has like, rides where they dangle you over the top of the building and stuff... Looks pretty intense. Anyway, that gives us some money to buy food and drinks while we are there. We can't afford going to see any shows, but I'm sure we'll be entertained by just walking the strip and seeing all the lights and such. 

We do have one plan... or I do, at least. I want to take Geoff to a bar called "Minus5" which is a vodka bar made entirely of ice. The walls, chairs, bar, shotglasses, ceiling, everything is carved out of ice. You are only allowed in there for about 30 minutes due to regulations, and may not have more than 3 drinks. I'm sure we'll only have one drink though, since it's like $30 for one drink and the tour. They issue you big furry jackets and hats and boots and mittens though so you won't get cold while you're visiting. Sounds like fun to me! They don't let you take cameras in, but if the photo they take isn't too expensive, maybe we'll purchase it and I'll post it on this blog for you guys.

My friend Robyn is letting me borrow her fabulous Vegas dress which is ruffly and orange/red (very cute) so I'll definitely be taking lots of photos. 

Unrelated to Vegas, I finished my last Final today for Compassion, and so I am officially done with my Spring Semester. After Mayterm (which is only like 3 weeks long anyways,) I will be a senior! yikes. Oh, did I tell you I start Bartending school on May 4th? That's like in... 2 weeks? 2 and a half? Anyway. I'm excited for that also. I think that's all for now. I'm going to go have a snack and do more lazing about while I still can. Ciao!

Finally finished!

Today, I finished my book.

15 copies of an original children's book, written, illustrated, printed and bound by yours truly!

(Okay, Geoff helped me bind a few at the end after my hands gave out.) :D

I intend to mail some out to you guys once they are given back to me after they are graded.

It's extremely satisfying, and that also means that I have one more project to do before I'm done with my Spring Semester!! 

I'm just glad my biggest project is out of the way.

I know I haven't told you guys yet, so there is news around the house!

Laura and her boyfriend Bryce are moving out to start their own life, which will be fantastic for them! I'm very happy they are getting to do this, and Geoff and I have been trying to help all we can. It is looking like Liz Smith (my dear friend from high school in case you guys don't remember the name,) will be living with us this summer in one of the rooms we are renting out! I'm super excited, because I miss her terribly, and she is so easy to be around, living with her is going to be a treat! We've been looking for someone else to fill Laura's room for a longer period of time, and we think we've found someone. His name is Bryce,(#2) and he is a med student graduating this year. He got a job at Loma Linda, so he will be coming to this area from Seattle at the beginning of this summer. Turns out, he is interested in Emergency Medicine, which is cool because that's what Geoff is interested in also! They will have much to nerd out about. :)

So, Geoff and I have been thinking about the things we are going to need to acquire when Laura and Bryce (#1) leave, and so far we have gotten two end tables, a coffee table, and a kitchen table and 5 chairs all for about $100! (Thank you, Craig's List.) I have been saving some of my birthday money, trying to stock up for things we need... and also something we want. Geoff and I have been thinking about adopting a puppy since I first started volunteering at the animal control center in San Bernardino. It is starting to look like this may actually become a reality pretty soon. We've both been putting money away to afford the care and love of this animal, and are now waiting to find just the right one. We've planned it out so our schedules will be ideal for the training of the puppy this summer before we enter our senior year. Since I will be bartending this summer, I will be working primarily at night, and Geoff will be working primarily during the day, at least one of us will always be home to spend time training and taking care of the puppy. Come fall, he will be trained and used to being independent. We can't wait!

Oh, also! Geoff is getting oriented and trained to be a volunteer with me at the shelter tomorrow! Hooray!

I really love working there... I don't think I've told you, but I've been sort of ... "promoted", I guess, at the shelter! I got trained to help with Adoptions, which means now I can go into the puppy house and get out little puppies for people and help them in the adoption process. I deal more with the public now, but still get to walk and play with the dogs. Lately, I've been playing with the dogs most of the other volunteers are too nervous to take out of the kennel. (Geoff pointed out that I was the same way with the dogs as I used to be with the horses.) Last Saturday, I played with a beautiful, sweet Mastiff (similar to a tank,) a rottweiler mix, and some sort of a shepherd/pit bull mix. Very strong dogs, but very fun. I much prefer playing with the bigger dogs than the smaller ones, personally.

Alright I think that's all for now. It's bed time!! 

EARLY BED TIME. FINALLY. AFTER A WEEK OF HARDLY ANY SLEEPING!!

Ciao!

Random, But worth reading.

This could be yours.

Or mine.

How could you NOT take those big blue eyes home?

Honestly.

On another unrelated note to dogs or anything, you all should definitely watch this video:

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ME

It is amazing and edifying and terrifying all at the same time.

Definitely an experience.