Saturday: Vegas, Chores and Fun

Saturday was Tyler’s day off and it was planned that we were going to get a few chores out of the way.

We went for coffee in the morning.  We went to a local coffee shop not far from Tyler’s house and the coffee was spectacular.  After coffee we went and did some groceries at Costco to get Tyler stocked up on a few items.  I tried to give him easy meal ideas to put together when he was in a hurry and on limited time.  We also worked on perfecting his budget.  Tyler took an accounting class in college so he has always been good budgeting but I just gave him a few ideas to keep everything on track.

We also went to the bookstore and record store on Saturday.  Tyler loves to find good old fashioned vinyl records. 

Dennis was flying in to Vegas the next day, so I decided to get some beer to put in our refrigerator in the hotel room, so we could have a drink when he came into town.  Tyler took me to Lee’s Liquor Store to get some beer.  I was shocked when I went in to the store.  I swear, only in Vegas would a liquor store give samples.  Yes, samples, like they do at Costco.   They just weren’t grocery samples they were booze samples.  I thought that was the craziest thing!

For dinner Tyler and I went to one of his favorite hamburger places: In and Out.  We don’t have this restaurant in Boise, so we like to go when we are in Vegas.  There is a new In and Out right by Tyler’s house that is really nice.

In the evening Tyler took me out to a local bar and we had a beer together.  Tyler ordered me a beer, called Blue Moon, and it is served with a slice of orange.   It was really good!  A couple local bands were playing that were fun to listen to.  I took Tyler home after that and I headed back to the hotel.  I was a little disappointed that the Valet parking was full and had to park in the parking garage.  I got a good spot that was fairly close to the entrance.  It worked out okay.

The next day, Sunday was a big day---Dennis was flying in to Vegas to finish the last two days of our vacation.  We have NEVER vacationed without our kids, so this was going to be something new that we were really looking forward to!

With Love,

Tina

Tyler and His Career

On Friday, March 19th, Tyler had to work.  I was going to bring him lunch that day, but Friday is the day that his company buys lunch for everyone in the office.  So I decided to sleep in, relax a little then head over to see Tyler in the early afternoon. 

Doesn’t Tyler look good?

I was able to meet Tyler’s new secretary, Patty;  What a great personality she has.  Also, I got to see his co-worker, Gus,again.  Gus also has a great personality and always has a funny story to tell.  Tyler has a new producer in the office that I did not get a chance to meet because he had gone home sick.

I brought my laptop to Tyler’s office so I could get on the internet and get a couple things done.  He had a client coming in for an audition while I was there, so I set up my computer on the extra desk he has and sat in for the recording of the audition.

I do not think I have the words to explain how awesome it was watching Tyler work.  What a proud, proud moment for me!  It is more than obvious he loves what he does for a living.  The gal that came in for the reading was so complimentary of Tyler.  His clients think the world of him.  I was amazed at listening to him speak to his clients and direct his clients.  Really that is what he is doing; not only recording, editing and producing the track he recorded.  But he also has to direct them to get the sound, tone and delivery of what the potential customers want in order to sell the audition.  He was amazing the way he spoke to them, directed them to change tone or “act” in a certain manner and compliment them on a job well done.  I am just amazingly proud of him!

After Tyler and Heather got off work, they came over to the hotel and we all went to dinner at a restaurant that was attached to the hotel:  PF Changs.  I had never eaten there but had always wanted to.  Another fantastic meal with fantastic company.  That is one thing that is certain, when we go to Vegas we always eat well!

Tyler, Heather and I spent time together until it was time for them to go to a concert that they had been planning to go to for awhile.

I was loving my vacation….

With Love,

Tina 

The Hotel

On this trip to Las Vegas, I got a room at the brand new hotel: Planet Hollywood Towers.  The Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino is the former Aladdin Hotel.  From what I understand the Aladdin Hotel was torn down to basically the studs and remodeled.  Then they built the “Tower” from the ground up.  The tower has only been open since January 28th, 2010.  It is virtually brand new!  It is modern, contemporary and beautiful. 

I have to say ONE of the best things about staying in a hotel is the valet parking.  I take full advantage of the valet when we go to Vegas.  I knew that I especially wanted to take advantage of it on this trip because I was traveling alone for 3 of the days and did not want to be in the parking garages alone, especially at night, in the dark. 

The PH Hotel staff was so nice when I checked in; from the valet (took all my luggage out of the car for me)  to the front desk (upgraded me to a higher floor room-the 23rd-with a view), to the person who delivered my luggage to my room.  I felt lucky to be staying there.

I will have to say that this is my favorite hotel that I have stayed at in Vegas. It was so nice, new and modern. 

The ROOM:

This big window has a huge electronic shade that comes down with a push of the button on the wall or a click of the remote on the TV screen. It darkens the room tremendously--not a crack of morning sunlight will stream in.  As I walked into the room that night, I opened the door, flipped on the light and this shade automatically went up revealing the beautiful lighted view of Las Vegas. The bed was SOOO comfortable and it was great to have a nice sitting area to read the morning paper in.

Another great feature of this room was the mini kitchen:

This kitchen included a refrigerator, dishwasher, convection/microwave oven, sink, toaster and a coffee maker.  It was so nice to have drinks and refrigerated items, breakfast and/or snack items in the room.  And waking up and being able to make coffee and not having to run to the casino for a cup of coffee from the Starbucks was soooo nice!

The bathroom was very nice too:

  The tub was a Jacuzzi.  The shower had a “rainfall” shower head.  The toilet was in a separate stall area.  It was just really nice.  I have to say the only thing that threw it off for me was the all black toilet.  I know it is strange to not like a toilet but it was just weird for me. 

The first night I was in Vegas Tyler had band practice so he wasn’t going to be available for dinner.  After the long day I decided just to order room service.  After hunting around the room for a menu with no luck, I asked the guy who delivered my luggage about it and he said it was on the TV.  Who would have guessed that?  I decided to order a turkey roll up sandwich that also came with fries.  About half an hour later my dinner arrived on a table cloth draped cart.

This meal was fantastic! 

Tyler came by to that evening and we visited for a while.  He could not stay too late because he had to work the next morning and I have to admit I was exhausted from the traveling! 

The vacation had started off great!

With Love,

Tina

Vegas Vacation

On March 18th, I was fortunate enough to fly to Vegas to visit with Tyler.  The plan was for me to fly on Thursday, the 18th, spend some time with Tyler and get a few things done for him that we had wanted to do. On Sunday the 21st, Dennis was going to fly in Vegas and spend the last two days with me before we flew home together on Tuesday.

What a long day it was. I had to work for a bit in the morning and  then be at the airport at 12:30 to catch my flight.  I had a crazy flight route that I was taking to get to Vegas; first (and only) stop was San Francisco! 

Now anybody that knows me well, knows that I am not the most comfortable flier.  I fuss, worry and stress usually until the plane has taken off, then I settle in a little bit.  The plane to San Francisco was a very small plane only two seats on each side and only about 20 rows.  We were into the flight about 15-20 minutes, the stewardess (are they still called that?) was rolling the cart up the very narrow aisle, handing out drinks.  She was at the row of seats right in front of me when a huge noise/crash was felt under my feet.  The guy in front of me looked up at the stewardess and asked “what was that?”   She proceeded to tell him that we probably hit a bird.  Was that suppose to make us feel better?  It may just have been a “coincidence”, but we started getting tremendous turbulence right after that!!  All I could do was look at the window at all the snow on the mountains below us and wonder how they hell I was going to survive if we crashed because I was only wearing sandals on my feet!   :D  Like that was the least of my problems!  After I  got over that initial shock I tried to settle in for the rest of the flight. 

As we got closer to our destination I could see the beautiful Pacific Ocean.  Wow!  It reminded me how much I enjoyed growing up near the ocean.  It was beautiful!  Then I could see the airport runway coming right off of the bay.  I really mean “right off of the bay”….it was amazing…..water was surrounding the runway on three sides.   We flew past the runway, which seemed like forever and then turned and came back for the landing into San Francisco.  We flew over the bay for a long time.  It was pretty intimidating to someone like me, who hates to fly.  All I could think about, as we got closer and closer to the water, was how frightening it must have been for the people on the flight that crashed/landed on the Hudson River.  I can’t even imagine what was going through their minds…okay maybe I can!

We landed safely in San Francisco.  I have never been to California before.  I know just being in the airport probably doesn’t count as “being in California”.  But it was still nice to see the Pacific Ocean and say that I have been there.

I had about an hour layover, then I had the “honor” of being patted down by TSA before I boarded my flight to Vegas.  It seemed ridiculous that they were pulling people aside ( it was probably for training) since we all had already been through security.  They pulled me aside, pat me down and didn’t even check the bags I am carrying on the plane.  Just seems a little strange. 

Only about an hour after boarding the plane, the Vegas strip come into view from the plane.  It is pretty funny flying into Vegas.  Everybody on the plane is smiling and appear to be ready for a good time.

It was quite a process:  get off the plane, take the tram to baggage, go outside and find the shuttle bus to take me to the rental car area, get the rental car and find my way to the hotel.

I was so excited to be in Vegas to spend some time with Tyler.   As I finally settled  in for my short drive to the hotel I decided:  I worry too much!

With Love,

Tina

Take me back to February…….

…..back to Valentines Day.

The Sweethearts Day:  Shelbe came to our house on Valentines Day to spend the day with us…well, really to spend the day with Logen.   They exchanged their very first Valentines Day gifts with each other.

Logen made Shelbe a collage picture of all of their favorite pictures together and framed it.  Shelbe made Logen a GIANT chocolate chip cookie! Logen said it was yummy.  I did not get even a bite! :)

Dennis made us his “famous” shrimp linguine for dinner….it is Shelbe’s favorite meal.  It was a pretty great day.

Colin’s class had a Valentines Day party the week before.  All week the class had learned about mail, the post office and how the mailman delivers mail to our houses. Oh wait until they grow up and find out that not all mail is good mail.  The mailman also brings us BILLS..yuck!   In teaching about mail, the class took a walking field trip to the post office to mail their handmade Valentines Day card to their parents.  The post office is only two blocks away and the afternoon weather was just beautiful for a walk. 

Here Colin is mailing his Valentines Day card.  He was so excited to check the mail the next day and see that the mailman had delivered it.

With learning about mail, it was important for him to participate in creating his Valentines for his friends at school.  This what Colin helped his Aunt Tina put together for all his friends:

   Of course he picked out “Toy Story” cards and the biggest sweetest sugar cookies we could find.  He was pretty excited to bring the goody bags to school.

Valentines Day 2010 was a success!

With Love,

Tina