Sun Moon Stars Girl )-(

Welcome to my little place to vent…

After our trip a couple weeks ago, we never heard from the couple we went to SFMM with about updated plans for Thanksgiving. Figuring we were no longer welcome, and knowing that they had some friends coming from out of town anyway, we decided to check out the dinner provided by our housing community. We took the morning to make our apple pie - so it would be fresh and hot for dessert - got dressed and headed out. We were a little disappointed with the whole day, as it seemed like nobody else “tried.” By this I mean we saw people wearing sweats and torn clothing, while we’d dressed up for the holiday. Additionally, most of the “pot luck” items at the dinner were either store-bought, or pre-made (Stove-top stuffing) in some way. Even the deal with the other people we were supposed to have had plans with for dinner falling through made no sense. If we were in their place, I know both of us would have gone out of our way to make everyone feel welcome, and to set all plans in place in advance - not let everything change and fall through. Kris and I asked each other why it seemed like we were stuck in the 1950’s, while for everyone else it was “just another day.” Silly, I guess, but it also made me a little homesick, as this is the first and only Thanksgiving I have not spent in NJ. Thank goodness we have plans to go back east for the holidays. I know I’m not ready for Christmas outside my parents’ house just yet.

Went to SFMM again this weekend. Finally got the kids to come with us, so it was pretty cool to have other people to hang out with for the day. We also finally went on Superman - the Ultimate Flight. I don’t know why Kris was so scared to go on this coaster - maybe because it’s the loudest ride in the park - but it really wasn’t bad. I probably could have ridden it all day. The ride was ultra-smooth, thanks to linear induction technology. And the backwards freefall wasn’t bad either - it didn’t actually even feel like it was freefall. This is probably the last time we’ll be at SFMM this season, but we have yet one more trip planned for a Six Flags park later, making full use of the season passes we purchased in June.

This weekend Kris I and headed out to Las Vegas for a visit with some of my family. My Aunt Linda, two of her friends, and my grandma had planned this trip out to Las Vegas before we even left for California. When we left from NJ, my grandma was very sad - but I reminded her I would see her in just a couple months!

I woke up Saturday morning with a bit of a cold. Determined not to let this stop us from going to Nevada, or my visit with my family, I made sure to grab some cold pills, tylenol, and cough drops. Luckily I was feeling much better by the time we actually met up with everyone.

But let me start again. This time instead of having a vague idea of where things were “supposed to be,” and feeling overwhemled at the millions of flashing lights, sounds, and smells of Vegas, we were prepared. We knew it was a nice day (unlike last time we came), and we didn’t overload our schedule. We picked two coasters to ride - the Manhattan Express at the New York, New York hotel, and Speed the Ride at the Sahara. We also decided to take the car - everywhere - this time we didn’t have bikes on the back and a billion things loading it down. No matter what anyone says - Vegas is NOT a walking city. Especially not when you’ve just driven your car 275 miles to get there.

Since we got to LV just after noon, I decided to try to surprise my grandma in the one place I knew she would be - the Aladdin casino. Unfortunately after about an hour’s worth of unsuccessful searching for her in both the casino and a visit up to their room, we left a little disappointed. Luckily we had a plan already set for a time we would meet.

We left the Aladdin and headed over to the NYNY. We had to drop the camera in a locker before our ride. The coaster was VERY shaky, but definately cool. The heartline roll element - which is apparently a unique feature of the coaster - was a pretty cool experience. And when we got off, we saw a sign saying re-rides were only $6 - so we got a voucher. No obligation, but if we could hit it again later in the day, cool.

Drove over to the Sahara. Got in line for Speed the Ride. I was very excited to take Kris on his very first linear induction coaster. Speed was quick, and ultra smooth. Unfortunately the ride is very short. Back and forth in the blink of an eye. Still a couple coasters checked off that list.

Found our hotel and rested for a bit. Got changed and headed back to the Aladdin. When we went up, everyone was in the room. Re-met my aunt’s friends, and decided on dinner at the Rio (where my mom’s friend Fran apparently works. Sideline for a moment…she wasn’t there, but I found out from my mother that she was the one who introduced my parents. Weird when I finally meet her - I may not have been here without her!). We finally got to eat at one of the world famour Vegas buffets - which we COULD NOT FIND last time we were in Vegas! (Thank you Grammy!)

We played a few slots with Grammy. Watched the show in the Rio - with the floats attached to the ceiling. Dancers…beads…etc. Brought the family back to the Aladdin, our now third trip to the parking garage. I prevented Kris from bringing us across the “suicide crossing” (where the cars come up the ramp into the garage), and we hit the shops in the Aladdin. We said good night, and made arrangements for the next morning.

Kris and I headed back to the NYNY and rode the Manhattan Express in the dark. We got another voucher - for a souviner, maybe to use in another trip to Vegas, who knows? Definately fun to ride coasters in the day and night. Headed back to our hotel - where we put on the a/c for the first time (for us!) in a month. Got a good nights rest (no more cold!) and headed back to - you guessed it - the Aladdin.

Woke up to rain. The first time its done so since the last time we were there. Followed a couple of Aunt Linda’s friends out of Vegas to a brunch buffet in Green Valley Ranch. That was a nice treat, and I have to say ‘thank you’ again. Played a few more slots with Grammy. Then we said goodbye, and headed out seperate ways. Got back at home, and heard from Aunt Linda that they’d been bumped. Now Grammy has a ticket for my family’s trip to visit us in March.

I had a better time this past weekend than the last time we went, but definately Vegas is not the place for us. Kris and I hate the smokiness (ashtrays in the bathroom stalls!) , gambling is just not our “kind of fun,” and nothing is a reasonable price. I won’t go again without having family to visit, or without a plan in mind that doesn’t include gambling. Maybe Kris and I will plan a weekend to go see a couple shows, ride the Statosphere rides, go on the gondola ride in the Venetian. For now, gotta get back in the “lab mindset.” It was nice to get away for the weekend, at least.

I keep doing this to myself, and I’m not quite sure how it happened. I am often able to (about 95% of the time) predict the outcome of a movie, or a book, or parts of either medium. I feel bad whenever I’m watching a movie with someone else, and I’m like - “Is he gonna….” and I’m right - especially when none of us watching have seen said movie. However, I also get annoyed when I’m watching with someone who’s seen it before, and I say, “Is this what’s going to happen?” and they say no. *sigh*

Maybe it’s because these things have gotten utterly predictable, and I’m not the only one who has this black magic power. Or maybe it’s just because I’m getting used to authors, storylines, and can just see what’s going to happen. Earlier this summer I read Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons,” proceeding “The DaVinci Code.” Both were fantastic, but I knew something that was going to happen in “Angels and Demons” 300 pages before it happened!

Well, it happened again the other night. I’m in the middle of a series of books I just started - and that the final book just came out for (if you’re smart, you know what series I’m talking about). I did it again. I know the ending of the series. I wish I could write how it happened, how I came to the conclusion of what it might be, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else who might be reading the same series. Kris was surprised at the ending, and then I said, “Oh no, I know the ending.” I told him what I thought it was, and he says to me, “Who told you?” incredulously. Nobody told me, I didn’t read any spoilers, the only person I’ve discussed the book with is HIM. Maybe it’s because I know Kris so well that I could predict the outcome. I was so disappointed I almost couldn’t pick the book I was reading back up.

I DID eventually pick it back up. I may know the ending, but I don’t know how that point is reached and resolved. As Kris says, “It’s not the destination that counts - it’s the journey.”